WITH the launch of the Singapore Airlines’ flight from Singapore to Munich at the end of March, tourist arrivals from Southeast Asia to Munich and the Alpine region have grown rapidly.
From January to August 2010, Bavaria counted 51,054 arrivals, up 54.6 per cent, and 143,552 overnight stays, up 67.8 per cent, from Southeast Asia and the Austrian Tirol region registered 4,909 arrivals, an increase of 42 per cent and 8,404 overnight stays up 19.9 per cent.
Munich Airport - one of Europe’s most popular gateways for Asia - recorded in the first six months of this year, 6,609 arrivals from Singapore-based passengers, an increase of 211 per cent, 2,220 arrivals from Malaysian passengers, up 35 per cent, and 1,735 arrivals from Indonesia.
To capitalise on the region’s improved attractiveness to Southeast Asian visitors Munich Airport joined a group of partners from across Bavaria, the Austrian Tirol and, for the first time, Salzburg, which make up the ‘Jewels of Romantic Europe’ in a roadshow taking in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta and exhibiting at ITB Asia giving agents and travel arrangers a view of what is on offer in this captivating area of northern Europe.
Road show partners were Bayern Tourismus Marketing (Bavaria Tourism), Zugspitze-Top Of Germany, Salt Mine Berchtesgaden, Prien at Lake Chiemsee, Munich Tourist Office, Munich Airport, Kulturgut AG, Tirol Tourist Board, City of Innsbruck, Swarovski Crystal Worlds and Salzburg Tourism.
Corrina Born of Munich Airport said: “We have seen a really good increase in the number of travellers coming in from Southeast Asia since the launch of the Singapore Airlines flight and we want to build on that by letting everyone know just how much our region has to offer, there is a huge amount to see and do throughout Bavaria, Tirol and Salzburg at all times of the year and we are here to let the Southeast Asian tourism trade know what is available.”