Tens of thousands of tourists from the GCC region will travel to Germany this summer, one of the most popular European holiday destinations for Gulf nationals.
Germany is not only the richest and most populous nation in Europe; it also is a growing tourist destination attracting approximately 54.8 million overnight stays annually. According to Antje Roeding, director Gulf Countries of the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), “The total number of overnight stays from the Gulf countries in 2007 has increased to 724,721. Since 1998, the number of overnight stays in Germany grew by almost 134 per cent, which amounts to an annual rise of 11.4 per cent. Out of the 724,721 overnight stays, 493,000 were in one of the so called ‘magic cities’ (Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Hanover, and Dresden).”
The holiday period has started in Germany and the country is expecting tens of thousands of visitors from the GCC states alone.
Another popular destination, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a one hour and 30 minutes drive away from Munich and located in an area that is known for its magnificent landscapes, attracting large numbers of visitors in the summer. There are cable cars that take visitors to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain at almost 3,000 metres.
“Germany is a very varied tourist destination that has a wide range to offer. Its healthy climate and mixed landscapes provide a superb environment for spa holidays. The country is also ideal for family holidays. Our leisure and theme parks are perfect for the whole family.
“Shopping is another great experience in Germany. We have a huge range of different places to shop, from the traditional atmosphere of its town centres to more than 400 shopping malls. Furthermore, a wide choice of hotel accommodation offers almost everything. You can either stay in a very familiar boarding-house or in one of the luxurious five-star hotels or spend a few days in an old castle.
Travelling within and throughout the country is very easy. We have a very good railway system which makes travelling very easy and convenient. Driving a car along the 633,000 kilometres of freeways and roads is a very fascinating experience,” Roeding added.