Central

• Limited legal role, covering contract law, tax policy, labour market policy and SME policy in relation to the tourism sector
• Practically, due to the relationship between tourism and the other fields with federal competences which have to be taken into account, the position of the federal government plays an important role
• Dialogue with the Länder via the “Bund-Länder-Ausschuss Tourismus" which is led by the Federal Ministry for the Economy. Due to the voluntary nature of participation in this body, there are written division of competences.
• Federal funding for the German National Tourist Board and for projects to enhance the performance of the tourism industry

Regional

• Main legislative and policy responsibility, for actual planning, development and direct promotion of tourism
• Dialogue with the Länder via the “Bund-Länder-Ausschuss Tourismus" which is led by the federal ministry. Due to the voluntary nature of participation in this body, there are written division of competences.
• Information and advice service
• Marketing
• Funding tourism research

Intermediate level - Kreise

•  Marketing and tourism promotion

Local ​ 

• Diverse activities
• Some municipalities cooperate to form tourism associations
• Marketing and tourism promotion
• Local registration

Responsible ministries/bodies

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Sources

Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus (German Centre for Tourism)

Kahlenborn, W. & Kraack, M. & Carius, A. & Turmann, A. (1997). Umweltpolitik & Tourismuspolitik: Strukturen, Instrumenten und Akteure der Umweltpolitik und anderer tourismusrelevanter Fachpolitiken.

Tourism Policy