BERLIN In 1997, unlike most other German cities, Berlin registered an increase in tourism. According to Berlin Tourismus Marketing GMBH, last year the German capital chalked up around 5.8 million overnight stays by visitors from other parts of Germany and 2.2 million by visitors from abroad increases of 7 and 12 percent respectively. The Berlin tourist board said that city tourism in Germany as a whole had declined by around four percent, and Berlin had thus further consolidated its rank as the most popular German city, ahead of Munich in second place.

Among foreign visitors to Berlin, the greatest rise in numbers was among Danes, with a 27-percent increase. The number of Spanish visitors rose by 23 percent, Swedish by 14 percent and British by 12 percent. (DPA)