The number of overnight stays topped the 28-million mark for the first time, increasing by 6.5 percent compared to 2013. Berlin's Socail Democrat mayor Michael Müller said at a press conference that 2014 was a record year for the city's tourism and congress industries. The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall attracted many tourists. The reception for the soccer world champions, the "Karneval der Kulturen" urban festival, the Berlin International Film Festival and the Berlin marathon were also major events contributing to the city's popularity. "Many visitors come to Berlin from Great Britain, Italy and the Netherlands," said the mayor. Most of the overseas visitors are from the United States - over a million Americans came last year. Müller hopes to reach over 30 million overnight stays this year.

The number of foreign visitors in the German capital has increased sixfold since the beginning of the 1990s. As one of the fastest growing international cities, Berlin has established itself among the three most popular destinations in Europe.

ks/eg (dpa)