Figures of GCC travellers to Germany encourage tourism promotion in the region
Dubai, 26th April 2012 - The cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai hosted the two conclusive sessions of the 2012 Germany road show "Dallal fi Almania" ("Feel Good in Germany"), which this year focuses in particular on the tourist offer for families. The road show terminated yesterday in Dubai, after stopping in Kuwait City, Doha and Abu Dhabi for the previous sessions of four-day tour.
"The GCC countries continue growing as major market for the German tourism sector," said Antje Roeding-Boudier, Director of the Marketing & Sales Office of the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in the Gulf region. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, the 2011 data concerning travellers from the GCC countries reached a new record and outdid for the first time the mark of one million overnight stays. The total number of 1,006,856 overnight stays of GCC nationals in Germany describes an increase of 4 per cent as compared to 2010. Moreover, Germany regularly confirms as GCC travellers' second most visited European destination. The great results of the previous years are expected to repeat in 2012 since an impressive raise of 17.8 per cent was registered for January 2012 as compared to the same month in 2011.
"Given the family-oriented demand characterizing this important region, the GNTO and its partners aimed at providing with this year's workshop theme a more detailed view on the multitude of offers that make Germany the ideal holiday destination for Arab families," Roeding-Boudier explained.
A variety of initiatives such as the annual recurring road show are regularly organised by the German National Tourism Office (GNTO), the local affiliate of the German National Tourism Board (GNTB) for the GCC countries, in order to strengthen tourism promotion in a region with an ever growing market potential for Germany. The workshop in Abu Dhabi was opened by Mr. Frank Neumann, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Abu Dhabi. H.E. Klaus Ranner, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dubai inaugurated yesterday's conclusive workshop in Dubai.
In total, twenty partners, representing different sectors of the tourism industry in Germany, supported the realisation of the road show "Dallal fi Almania" 2012. In light of the continuously expanding popularity of Germany as tourist destination for families from the GCC countries, the guests from the Arabian Gulf's travel industry and media enthusiastically took part in the road show. The activities, held by the institutional and tourism representatives arrived from Germany, include discussions, exchanges as well as one-to-one workshop sessions. The extensive networking opportunities and the informative dialogue established between the German and Arab counterparts continue to be the most appreciated aspects of this successful promotional tool created by GNTO.
Showcasing Germany's diversified tourist offers across the Arabian Gulf is part of the GNTO's strategy for directly engaging the GCC travel industry in the region. Particularly relevant is the Germany Travel Mart™ (GTM), the largest workshop for incoming tourism to Germany, which in 2012 will be held in Leipzig from 13th to 15th of May. In occasion of this event, the GNTO in the Gulf region will be joined by 17 hosted buyers and media representatives from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
About the GNTB
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It works on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) to represent Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry in accordance with a decision taken by the German Bundestag. The GNTB develops and communicates strategies and products to promote Germany's positive image abroad as a tourist destination and to encourage tourists to visit the country. It has 30 agencies around the world to support its activities. More information can be found in our online press centre at www.germany.travel/presse.
© Press Release 2012
