FOLLOWING a successful summer, Germany has once again posted encouraging visitor arrival numbers from the Middle East.
According to recent data from the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), the number of incoming tourists from the region increased by an impressive 66 per cent in July 2010 compared to the same month last year.
Between January and August 2010, the country recorded a 24.4 per cent increase in visitors and, with 722,387 overnight stays, this makes the Gulf region one of the strongest overseas source markets for Germany, second only to the US.
According to Antje Roeding, director of the Marketing & Sales Office for the Gulf Countries at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in Dubai: “Our statistics show that the GCC is a very important part of our country’s tourism growth strategy which is reflected in offers specifically targeted at it, such as brochures published in Arabic, restaurants offering halal meals and Arabic-speaking hotel staff in major destinations across Germany.”
Germany is also popular for its state-of-the-art medical facilities generating many visitors who combine their medical trips with some leisure days. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, in total around 68,000 international patients underwent inpatient treatment in German hospitals in 2008, underlining the high demand in this sector which is also seen in travellers from the Middle East and from the GCC in particular.
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Roeding...importance of region |
With these encouraging figures, medical tourism will be a key segment for GNTB in 2011. The aim is to strengthen Germany’s position as a leading destination for health and fitness holidays and to promote Germany as a centre for high-quality, expert services in the areas of wellness, health and medical travel.
The theme year will be divided according to different target groups. Wellness, for example, is aimed at visitors with an interest in health and wellbeing and focuses on top-end wellness and spa hotels. A second segment is dedicated to the 350 quality-certified spas and health resorts, which are the best choice for visitors looking for prevention and rehabilitation. Another segment of the campaign is medical travel, which is proving particularly interesting for travellers from the Arab Gulf states.
2011 will also celebrate the 125th anniversary of the motor car in Germany. “In this context, we will promote Germany as the home of the automobile,” said Roeding.
“GNTB’s activities will focus on automotive-themed tourist attractions. Car museums with pioneering architecture, innovative technologies and exciting events are all destined to attract and fascinate international visitors.
“All in all, Germany has more than 200 museums which explore many aspects of cars and technology, while a highlight of the anniversary year will be the Automobile Summer. Under this title, the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg will be celebrating the birth of the motor car with a multitude of events over 125 days.”