Tag Archives: Germany

Following a successful debut last summer, the German National Tourism Board’s ‘German.Local.Culture’ campaign returns highlighting more of the many ways to experience the country’s national traditions. As a result of the encouraging news that visitors to Germany no longer require a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or negative PCR test, the country’s tourism board is looking forward to a rise in arrivals from the GCC and the opportunity to offer them a variety of cultural experiences and insights into the country’s customs. “Our German.Local.Culture campaign encourages visitors to focus on unique elements of Germany’s culture; experiences you simply cannot get in other countries,” said Yamina Sofo, director of sales and marketing at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “Germany has a rich tapestry of traditions ready for tourists from the GCC to enjoy – from industrial architecture and traditional craftmanship to local festivals.” Below are just a small selection of some of the sights and experiences on offer, with a specific insight for each of the German.Local.Culture campaign’s four pillars: Green: Hiking with a View in Baden-Baden Shining a light on Germany’s sustainable travel options, Baden-Baden is filled with stunning valleys and incredible views. The Panorama Trail is an ideal way to see as much of the city as possible. Venturing through beautiful gardens filled with plentiful flowers, across the Geroldsau waterfall, and through the Rhine Valley, the 45km trail is known for being one of the most breath-taking in all of Germany. Craft: Glass Art in Harz Mountains Glass art in Germany is steeped in history, dating back as far as the 17th Century. Visitors to the country can enjoy one of the few places still …

Recognising an increased demand for outdoor experiences this summer among visitors from the GCC, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is debuting the brand-new Embrace German Nature campaign that focuses on highlighting sustainable, open-air activities. Germany is home to more than 130 protected natural landscapes, including a plethora of stunning forests, lakes, valleys, and hiking and cycling trails just waiting to be explored. It also boasts three UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites, 16 UNESCO biosphere reserves, 16 national parks, and 106 nature reserves. “We understand that GCC travellers are keen to visit countries that possess ideal summer climates with a wide range of things to do,” said Yamina Sofo, director of sales and marketing at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “Germany’s diverse selection of outdoor activities ensures something for everyone, from hiking trails to relaxing spa towns. Our Embrace German Nature campaign will improve access to and information about these opportunities even further, in a sustainable way.” Four unique picks that fit the campaign are: Arnsberg Forest Nature Park Covering a total area of 482 square kilometers between the Möhne and Ruhr Rivers, the Arnsberg Forest Nature Park is sighted as one of the beautiful recreation lands in the Ruhr area. Nature lovers can enjoy the pristine mountain landscapes complete with springs, branching brooks and dense forests. Spreewald Biosphere Reserve For water lovers, this UNESCO biosphere reserve is shaped around the river Spree, which was formed during the last ice age. Visitors can enjoy the 276km of river via ‘punting boats’, a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow. Still used to this day by local fishers, the surrounding area is home to more than …

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has outlined its key strategic framework ahead of the return of wholescale international tourism, with various additions and adjustments to meet the needs of global travellers in a post-pandemic world. Addressing the results of recent independent surveys and reports, GNTB intends to focus on three key areas to help grow the national tourism industry: digitalisation, sustainability, and remote work.   Digitalisation “As international travellers continue to grow more confident once more, it is essential to strengthen the competitiveness of Germany as a global destination,” said Yamina Sofo, Director Sales & Marketing, GCC. “For this reason, we have studied public opinion and identified various way to improve our offerings. We are now in the process of constructing modern, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure for our visitors to feel comfortable when travelling.” According to a 2021 IPK International survey, 75 per cent of travellers prefer digital offers when planning a trip. Online booking not only allows for easier accessibility, but also removes physical contact during the transaction. Similarly, the use of e-guides and tour books has grown in popularity because of pandemic protocols. Germany will look to develop and widen the availability of these options this year. Sustainability Travellers’ values have also shifted towards sustainable tourism. According to Booking.com’s 2021 Sustainable Travel Report, 61 per cent of international travellers regard the COVID-19 pandemic as the main motivator to travel sustainably. Germany, for its part, starts from a strong position in that regard. GNTB’s Feel Good campaign won the World Travel Market’s ‘World Responsible Tourism Award’ last year, as well as the European Cultural Travel Network’s Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Award for 2021. Likewise, the 2021 Sustainable …

Germany is firmly establishing its position as a leading destination for outdoor tourism, encouraging travellers to consider its nature and outdoor activities following the lift of post-pandemic travel measures, with the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) leading the charge in presenting the country’s offering to GCC travellers. The European country is the ideal travel destination for its array of outdoor locations, wildlife, sports, and adventure tour offerings, favoured by both domestic and international travellers. Germany’s tourism sector is inviting visitors to explore its parks, nature trails, and other open spaces with all the family. “Travellers from the GCC are eager to explore while ensuring they are keeping their families safe,” Yamina Sofo, Director Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries said. “We are encouraging future travellers to consider nature-oriented holidays as an option, and Germany boasts a wealth of offerings across the regions, suitable for families, or solo travellers.”

With the continuous increase of Gulf travellers to Germany recording 1.8 million overnight stays in 2018 compared to 770,000 in 2009, the vibrant city of  ‘Heidelberg’ and luxury shopping destination ‘Breuninger’ have stepped up to the plate to attract Gulf visitors. Heidelberg is a famed university city courting GCC travellers with its café-hopping, restaurant and confectionery culture combined with rich historic attractions. The city hosts the original Vetter’s Brauhaus inn, which has exported its culture of freshly brewed drinks, sausage and over-fresh pretzels worldwide. Considered a haven for foodies, Heidelberg visitors can ride the funicular up to the castle and dine in ‘Scharffs Schlossweinstube’, the elegant Michelin-starred restaurant in Heidelberg Castle with amazing views of the old town and the river. To attract family visitors during the festive winter break, Heidelberg is underscored with an abundance of colourful season markets. “Heidelberg is also a member of Germany’s barrier-free concept, which has provided great access to attractions and activities for the physically challenged and the city has produced the HeidelbergCARD which offers a host of benefits and discounts to visitors. For the visually impaired, we have tailor-made excursions in German and English, including the ‘Discover Heidelberg by ‘Sensing, Smelling, Feeling’ guided tour. This brings the city’s history to life by sensing the environment, feeling monuments and smelling the scents of the city,” said Nina Koch, Director Sales of Heidelberg Marketing. Meanwhile, Breuninger one of Europe’s leading department stores, is anticipating its luxury retail experiences will attract high-end GCC shoppers to 11 stores throughout Germany. Breuninger has been in the fashion and lifestyle business for over 135 years, offering an exclusive selection of international designer brands, aspiring new-to-market brands and outstanding services. …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has further strengthened its position in Europe with a multi-city roadshow in the UK and Germany last month that brought together more than 370 tour operators and travel agents. In a bid to attract 1.5 million visitors by 2021, increased emphasis has been put on growing further awareness in key European markets. The European roadshow covered key cities including Hamburg, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, London, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Edinburgh to meet industry representatives and introduce Ras Al Khaimah’s diverse and spectacular beach, desert, mountain, and adventure offerings.  Held at iconic venues such as the Emirates Stadium in London and Edinburgh Castle, the roadshow allowed participants an opportunity to discover Ras Al Khaimah’s unique proposition and its tourism products via presentations, networking events, and interactive quizzes. Haitham Mattar, Chief Executive officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said, “With a unique combination of authentic Arabian hospitality, pristine beaches and outdoor adventure pursuits, Ras Al Khaimah has a great appeal to holidaymakers from all over Europe. We have seen a significant growth in the number of visitors from Europe over the last couple of years, and therefore, our ongoing roadshow programme is a great vehicle to tell the story of the accessible Arabian hospitality. As we look towards our goal of 1.5 million visitors by 2021 and 3 million by 2025, it is essential to personally connect with travel professionals from our source markets to give them a real flavour of everything Ras Al Khaimah has to offer our visitors.”  

The Higher Organising Committee of IWAS World Games Sharjah 2019 confirmed that 1,462 participants from 50 countries are set to compete in the world’s largest wheelchair and amputee sports championship in Sharjah from February 10-16. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member Ruler of Sharjah, the IWAS World Games has returned to the emirate for the second time after its successful debut in the city in 2011. The eighth edition of the world championship brings together seven games including archery, athletics, badminton, swimming, shooting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. New details of the upcoming biennial sports championship were revealed at a press conference held recently at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa. Global athletes landing in Sharjah over the next few days are set to represent 50 competing nations confirmed by the Higher Organising Committee which include the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, India, Sweden, Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Kenya, Russia, China, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Italy, South Africa, South Korea, Poland, Pakistan, Norway, Kenya, Latvia, Macau, Azerbaijan, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Serbia, France, Georgia, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Greece, Czech Republic, Austria, Belarus and Comoros.

SIHOT, a customer-centered technology solution managing various aspects of hotel operations, was launched recently at Dubai HITEC 2018. Developed by GUBSE AG in Germany, the solution helps local hoteliers to adopt latest technologies in the fast development and tech progress challenges in the hospitality industry. It combines different modules, from PMS and CRM, to self check-in terminal and web app for the guests, into one manageable application for hoteliers. With Dubai’s high ambitions to attract 25 million tourists by 2025 and the growing numbers of hotel rooms available (additional 155,000 by 2020), local hoteliers are looking for new ways to attract more guests. Having noticed the challenges of hoteliers in the Middle East, SIHOT has partnered with BizGate Marketing & Consultancies to help industry professionals enhance their guest experience. David Warren, Director, International Sales, SIHOT, siad, “We understand the challenges Middle East hoteliers are facing. We want to help them to manage everyday operation using just one complex solution, as well as staying ahead by adopting the latest tech trends.” Mohamad Masri, Managing Director, BizGate Marketing & Consultancies, said, “We’ve been observing the considerable growth of rooms supply this year and it’s the crucial time for hoteliers to optimise their operations and enhance their guest experience.”

Dubai remains on track to becoming the most visited city for global travel, business and events, according to the latest visitation figures released by Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism). The emirate welcomed 11.58 million visitors in the first three quarters of 2018, with India retaining its position as Dubai’s leading source market, followed by Saudi Arabia and the UK continuing to hold second and third positions respectively, underlining the city’s sustained appeal to its traditional strongholds and a wider diversified global audience. Russia, China and Germany continued to be key drivers within the top performing markets, each recording double-digit growth compared to the same period in 2017. Tourism from Russia remained on high trajectory, growing by a massive 60 per cent year-on-year, with visitor numbers surging to 460,000 in just the first nine months of 2018. The increase in Russian overnight guests was supported by a strong 19 per cent growth in air capacity across non-stop flights, in addition to added ease of travel access following the introduction of visa-on-arrival facilities in the last two years. China also continued to highlight benefits from the visa-on-arrival scheme, complementing the ongoing ‘China Readiness’ strategy, consequently re-enforcing its upward curve resulting in China securing its position as the fourth largest feeder market with an impressive 641,000 visitors so far this year, marking a 12 per cent increase versus 573,000 for the same period last year. Germany grew even faster at 15 per cent to reach 388,000 visitors during the first nine months, landing in eighth place within the top 10 source markets for Dubai. From a regional perspective, the first nine months saw 20 per cent of overnight visitors …

The German National Tourist Office in Dubai, together with its partners Emirates, Münich Tourism and Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay, brings some of German cuisine’s delicious flavours at Steigenberger Brothaus Bakery – Bistro in Dubai to inspire guests to visit Germany. Sigrid de Mazieres, Director — Marketing and Sales Office Gulf Countries, German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries stressed the importance of the GCC as being the third-largest non-European feeder market for Germany. She reiterated that the number of travellers to GCC from 2009 has been increasing year on year and in 2017, it witnessed 4.5 per cent increase. Annually, the theme to attract international tourists changes in the sector. This year is about the culinary journey which is quite interesting for the visitors from the region as food and shopping are two main areas that they focus while travelling to Germany. Shaz Peshimam, Emirates Senior Manager for Dubai and the Northern Emirates addressed the audience and stated that the new visa-free facility to all the UAE nationals has made a great impact for their flights as earlier it was seasonal. Emirates has been serving Germany for the past 31 years and they fly to four main areas — Frankfurt, Düsseldorf , Munich and Hamburg with 70 weekly flights.