Bangkok--27 Nov--Precious Communications
More and more people are travelling to Germany on business or for pleasure. Since the country's reunification in 1989/90, the number of overnight stays by foreign visitors has well over doubled. In 2016, inbound tourism to Germany notched up record results for the seventh year running, with over 80 million overnight stays.
Working on behalf of the federal government, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is responsible for the worldwide marketing of Germany as a travel destination. "As a brand, Destination Germany is very well positioned in the global market," explains Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the GNTB. "The volume of overnight stays by international visitors could increase to a total of 121.5 million by the end of the next decade. A number of high-potential markets in the Asia-Pacific region are likely to generate particularly robust growth. Consequently, we predict that overnight stays from this region will increase from the current level of around ten million per year to more than 14 million in 2030."
Germany's strong image makes it an attractive destination
There are many reasons for the success of Germany's inbound tourism. Germany has an outstanding reputation as a country, economic power and travel destination. It is currently ranked second in the highly respected Anholt GfK Roper Nation Brands Index (NBI), which measures the brand image of 50 countries. Germany has been a continuous presence in the top three of the NBI for the past ten years. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, compiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF), puts German tourism in third place in a comparison of 136 countries. As an economic power, Germany is ranked fifth among 140 countries by the WEF.
Excellent position and tourism infrastructure
Germany lies at the heart of Europe, the most visited travel region in the world. The country's commercial airports are served by more than 100 international airlines, which operate scheduled flights from every continent. Germany's transport infrastructure is also excellent. Frequent express trains and budget coach routes provide comfortable and eco-friendly connections between urban centres, and the close integration of regional and local public transport opens up the entire country. An extensive road and autobahn network ensures journeys are convenient and practical.
Travellers to Germany can choose from a wide range of places to stay, from simple accommodation for backpackers to world-class luxury hotels with exceptional personal service. At EUR93, the average room price in German towns and cities is significantly below that of their European counterparts, where the average price can reach as high as EUR124 (Switzerland).
City breaks and culture are popular
Germany is a hospitable country that makes its guests feel very welcome. The urban centres, in particular, are very multicultural and therefore highly attractive to international tourists.
As a shopping destination, Germany benefits from the wide choice and high quality of products. The country generates revenue of EUR1.65 billion from tax-free shopping, giving it a global market share of 10.1 per cent and ranking it fourth among all travel destinations.