A short time later, on December 20, 1971, an agreement was signed between the Senate and the GDR that improved the possibilities for West Berliners to travel and visit the city. From then on, they were allowed to stay in the eastern part of the city or in the GDR for 30 days per year without having to give reasons. Additional trips for urgent humanitarian and family reasons were also possible. Due to the two agreements, the number of visits to the GDR increased just as rapidly as the number of trips to and from West Berlin since 1972, according to Lemo.