BERLIN, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The number of overnight stays in German accommodation facilities increased by 4.5 percent year on year in July 2019, according to preliminary figures published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday. 

Photo: VCG

Germany's tourism and hotel industry recorded 58.8 million overnight stays of domestic and international guests in July this year, the Destatis figures showed.

"Germany as a host country is more popular than ever," said Guido Zoellick, president of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) when presenting a report on the first half of 2019 in August.

Compared to the previous year, the number of international guests who stayed overnight in Germany increased by 3.6 percent to 11.1 million, according to Destatis.

With 47.7 million, Germans still accounted for the majority of overnight stays in July, according to Destatis.

The official statistics did not, however, distinguish between "business and private travelers" who stayed overnight in Germany, a DEHOGA spokesperson told Xinhua.

In the first seven months of the year, German accommodation facilities recorded 281.1 million overnight stays, an increase of 3.9 percent year on year, Destatis showed.

According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, 2018 was the ninth record year in a row for the number of overnight guest stays in Germany.

Moreover, DEHOGA stated that "thanks to the continued positive consumer climate, the hotel and restaurant industry is heading for its 10th year of growth."