Tag Archives: GNTB

Unforgettable summer awaits as GCC travellers invited to experience ‘51 UNESCO world heritage sites

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is delighted to promote its captivating campaign 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Historic.Modern.Germany aimed at enticing GCC travellers to explore the wonders of Germany during the vibrant summer season. Germany boasts 51 World Heritage sites and more than 6,000 museums, offering a wealth of interesting places of cultural and historical significance. Showcasing a fusion of both its rich history and contemporary allure, Germany offers an extraordinary tapestry of experiences where ancient castles, picturesque landscapes, and bustling cities coexist seamlessly. With its latest campaign, the GNTB seeks to present the country as the ideal summer destination for Gulf travellers, enticing them with a diverse array of attractions, cultural encounters, and unforgettable adventures. Whether it is in the city or countryside, Germany’s culture is honoured and preserved, providing inspiration for the future. Under 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Historic.Modern.Germany, the country is unswervingly promoting its palaces and castles, nature and gardens, architecture and design, churches and abbeys, cultural heritage, and historical town centres. Some of the noteworthy places that explorers can discover under this campaign are the castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust in Bruhl, the Margavial Opera House in Bayreuth, Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Worlitz, Bauhaus sites in Weimar Dessau and Bernau, Cologne Cathedral and the historic centres of Stralsund and Wismar, among others. This allows travellers to embrace Germany’s ‘Stay a Little Bit Longer’ initiative and explore many of the country’s regions and make the most of the abundance of diverse experiences each has to offer. Travellers can also make the most of GNTB’s interactive map (https://www.germany.travel/en/campaign/world-heritage/home.html), which allows them to immerse in the full splendour of Germany. The tool enables visitors to seamlessly …

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Unforgettable summer awaits as GCC travellers to experience ‘51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Historic.Modern.Germany’

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is delighted to promote its captivating campaign 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Historic.Modern.Germany aimed at enticing GCC travellers to explore the wonders of Germany during the vibrant summer season. Germany boasts 51 World Heritage sites and more than 6,000 museums, offering a wealth of interesting places of cultural and historical significance. Showcasing a fusion of both its rich history and contemporary allure, Germany offers an extraordinary tapestry of experiences where ancient castles, picturesque landscapes, and bustling cities coexist seamlessly. With its latest campaign, the GNTB seeks to present the country as the ideal summer destination for Gulf travellers, enticing them with a diverse array of attractions, cultural encounters, and unforgettable adventures. Whether it is in the city or countryside, Germany’s culture is honoured and preserved, providing inspiration for the future. Under 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Historic.Modern.Germany, the country is unswervingly promoting its palaces and castles, nature and gardens, architecture and design, churches and abbeys, cultural heritage, and historical town centres. Some of the noteworthy places that explorers can discover under this campaign are the castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust in Bruhl, the Margavial Opera House in Bayreuth, Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Worlitz, Bauhaus sites in Weimar Dessau and Bernau, Cologne Cathedral and the historic centres of Stralsund and Wismar, among others. This allows travellers to embrace Germany’s ‘Stay a Little Bit Longer’ initiative and explore many of the country’s regions and make the most of the abundance of diverse experiences each has to offer. Travellers can also make the most of GNTB’s interactive map (https://www.germany.travel/en/campaign/world-heritage/home.html), which allows them to immerse in the full splendour of Germany. The tool enables visitors to seamlessly …

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Germany bolsters sustainable tourism offerings in 2023 with diverse campaigns

German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable tourism offerings to travellers, encouraging eco-conscious travel expeditions, thriving towards strengthening intercultural understanding, supporting regional businesses and conserving natural resources. According to an analysis by IPK International, around 80 per cent of international travellers are conscious about sustainability, climate and environmental protection and around 40 per cent seek cost-effective offers specially when it comes to their stays. In addition, a strong 90 per cent of those surveyed also have a strong desire to combine a city trip with a stay in a rural region; they extend the length of their stay that contributes towards reducing the CO₂ footprint. “As a tourist board, we continuously share the latest data with service providers, from customer groups to be addressed, to trends in the choice of transport; these are crucial fundamentals for travel providers,” said Petra Hedorfer, CEO, German National Tourist Board (GNTB). “The continuous exchange of best practices is also extremely important in a transformation, so that travel providers can make faster progress together – we, as a Tourist Board, act as a networking and knowledge platform to accelerate these eco-conscious transformations,” she added further. “We welcome travellers to experience Germany and explore its wide range of attractions that are not only exciting but are also environmentally friendly. We thrive in the narrative ‘Germany Simply Inspiring’, which was launched in 2017 and aims to promote the country’s positive image among a global audience,” said Yamina Sofo, Director at the Dubai-based German National Tourist Office (GNTO). GCC travellers can enjoy Germany’s plethora of sustainable offerings, including affordable public transport options, green architecture, and sprawling parks. ‘Feel Good’, one of the campaigns …

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Germany records 318% increase of traffic in 2022, the GCC is the second largest overseas source market for inbound tourism to Germany

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has revealed the country recorded a 318 per cent increase on overnight stays from Gulf nationals in the first six months of 2022 when compared to the same period last year*. GCC nationals were responsible for more than 335,000 stays in H1 2022, compared with a little less than 81,000 in 2021. Such figures confirm the region’s position as representing the biggest growth from an Asian source market. While tourism numbers may not have returned to pre-pandemic levels yet, the promising growth demonstrates the countries strong recovery as it continues to attract tourists. “The GCC is the top Asian source market, therefore it’s unsurprising with our recent campaigns that there has been such a strong increase,” said Yamina Sofo, director of sales and marketing at the German National Tourist Office, the regional office of GNTB. “Pandemic recovery has long been top of mind and it’s encouraging to see that both longstanding and first-time travellers are increasingly keen to explore everything that Germany has to offer.” Overall, the Asian source markets have recorded a 252.3 per cent increase in overnight visitors, a jump from just over 217,000 to just under 800,000 in 6 months. The surging increase demonstrates a dedication and determination to travel internationally, despite some countries continuing to implement travel restrictions during the first half of the year. To further drive interest in travel to Germany in the remainder of 2022, GNTB has announced the launch of its ‘Feel Good’ campaign, which encompasses a plethora of guiding tips highlighting the country’s eco initiatives that provide conscious tourists with adequate tools and information to reduce their carbon footprint during their travels. A recent survey by D/A, …

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Germany to launch two new campaigns and support six national partners at ATM 2022

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is set to return to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) next month by unveiling of two campaigns to the GCC market, which will run throughout 2022. The market-leading, international travel and tourism event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 9-12 and Germany’s presence will feature a strong focus on local culture and the diversity of its various cities. Located in the Europe Hall at stand EU1235, GNTB’s participation will reinforce Germany’s efforts of enhancing sustainable travel and enjoy the support of six delegated partners: Baden-Baden Tourism Board, Breuninger, Frankfurt Tourism Board, Düsseldorf Tourism Board, Hotel Palace Berlin and visitBerlin. Positioning Germany as a leading cultural and environmental destination, the two campaigns span nature, sustainability, and traditional culture. In essence, each highlights Germany’s key objectives of promoting enjoyable, sustainable travel with a focus on diverse local culture accessible throughout the country. “We will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our long-standing friendships with the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman next month,” said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “Our relationship with the region has seen monumental growth as travellers from across the GCC have been exploring Germany’s vast itineraries for years. The appetite of GCC nationals to visit Germany’s cultural sites, national parks, and urban destinations remains undiminished, and we look forward to the continuous growth of our campaigns and regional appeal.” Baden-Baden Tourism is set to highlight its latest accomplishment of being awarded UNESCO world heritage status as part of the ‘Great Spa Towns of Europe’. Despite travel restrictions within the past couple of years, GCC visitors remains a …

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Germany opens borders to international leisure and business travellers from 25th June

German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has confirmed the resumption of international tourism with the country opening to global travellers under existing visa regulations, including those from across the GCC, from 25 June 2021. “Opening our borders to international visitors ahead of the summer travel period is vital for the domestic tourism ecosystem and we anticipate Germany being recognised as a go to travel destination this year,” said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales and Marketing of the German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries. “During the past few months, we have been working closely with our travel partners across the region to ensure Germany remains top of mind once borders reopen.” To ensure tourism remains safe for all, visitors are required to register at www.einreiseanmeldung.de to gain entry, which includes uploading proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in digital or paper form (e.g. WHO vaccination booklet) with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This must also be printed and carried as proof. Vaccines approved include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. A period of at least 14 days must have elapsed since receiving the last vaccine dose. For full entry requirements, visitors are advised to refer to www.bmi.bund.de. Those travelling from countries with variant concerns are unable to transit through Germany to another European country. Travellers must check with the individual German federal state they plan to visit as all have different rules to follow prior to arrival. “Germany has a wealth of summer activities for international travellers, from spa and wellness breaks, and nature trails through forests, to city-based culinary experiences and cultural explorations across multiple regions,” Sofo added.

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GNTB unveils German.Local.Culture. campaign at ATM 2021

German National Tourist Board’s (GNTB) has launched its latest campaign, German.Local.Culture., on the back of a successful Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2021) participation which stimulated strong interest from GCC travel representatives. As one of Germany’s top three source markets, which registered more than 1.6 million overnight stays in 2019, the GCC is a key focus for the tourism board, who led a delegation of six tourism partners during the first live travel exhibition in Dubai this week. “The relationship between the GCC and Germany remains extremely strong, and with the announcement earlier about changes to quarantine regulations, we are optimistic for a swift traveller recovery from the region,” said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “The new campaign, German.Local.Culture., will not only showcase the very best that Germany and our regions has to offer, but will further showcase the destination as a must visit.” “The German.Local.Culture. campaign addresses the increased longing of travellers for authenticity and traditions and gives insights into German customs from handicrafts to local and regionally typical dishes,” Petra Hedorfer, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of the GNTB, said. Commenting on the success of ATM, Robert Lekel, Marketing Manager at Munich Tourism, said: “It was great being at ATM this year, we are able to be visible and show future and returning customers, and travellers, that we are waiting for them and hopeful for flights again. We felt the positive spirit between everyone, we are very happy to connect once again.” His thoughts were echoed by Cornelia Stahr, Head of Global Marketing at Baden-Baden Tourism, who added: “I am very happy the Arabian Travel Market could …

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German cities including Berlin ready to welcome GCC visitors in 2021

German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is participating at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) this week, which is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the first international travel trade event to take place in-person since the outbreak. The GNTB wanted to raise awareness of what Germany and in particular Berlin, has to offer city, nature and culture enthusiasts living in the GCC countries, by showcasing the exciting facets and flair of Germany such as customs, crafts, local food and drink, culture and architecture, and the varied countryside and nature on the doorstep of many German cities. Speaking at the press conference at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, said Yamina Sofo, Director Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries (GNTO) said, “With the success of the national vaccination programmes in the GCC countries, particularly in the UAE where more than 11.5 million doses have been administered so far (over 70% of the UAE population have received vaccines and 40% are fully vaccinated), we remain optimistic that the pre-crisis level of incoming travel from the UAE to Germany can be regained by end of 2022. “It gives us immense pleasure to be here, at ATM, to showcase our unique German culture to not only GCC travellers but outbound tourists across the Middle East. We hope to encourage demand for city and nature holidays coupled with sustainable tourism, which draws attention to the many different ways of discovering Destination Germany with its wide range of traditions and attractions,” Sofo added. Commenting on Berlin’s readiness for the return of inbound tourism, Burkhard Kieker, CEO, visitBerlin, said, “Like no other city, Berlin is poised for yet another new start in 2021 – …

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Germany awaits GCC travellers to explore its natural landscapes

Germany is firmly establishing its position as a leading destination for outdoor tourism, encouraging travellers to consider its nature and outdoor activities following the lift of post-pandemic travel measures, with the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) leading the charge in presenting the country’s offering to GCC travellers. The European country is the ideal travel destination for its array of outdoor locations, wildlife, sports, and adventure tour offerings, favoured by both domestic and international travellers. Germany’s tourism sector is inviting visitors to explore its parks, nature trails, and other open spaces with all the family. “Travellers from the GCC are eager to explore while ensuring they are keeping their families safe,” Yamina Sofo, Director Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries said. “We are encouraging future travellers to consider nature-oriented holidays as an option, and Germany boasts a wealth of offerings across the regions, suitable for families, or solo travellers.”

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‘German Summer Cities 2021′ sets new impulses for city tourism

Unspoilt nature and carefree enjoyment, sustainable offers and good entertainment are the cornerstones of the ‘German Summer Cities 2021′ campaign, with which the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is promoting vacations in the urban regions in summer 2021. With #GreenSummerStories, the GNTB draws the attention of potential guests to alternative offers beyond the familiar tourist hotspots, such as green spaces, parks, local recreation areas and leisure activities in the vicinity of urban destinations. “The Corona pandemic has disproportionately affected city breaks as a particularly successful segment of German incoming tourism. In line with the growing need for security and care on the part of foreign guests, the focus in the coming year will be on new sustainable city experiences – German Summer Cities,” explains Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB. “We are setting new trends for international travellers with attractive offers in the areas surrounding the cities. Our marketing activities are focused on raising brand awareness for the Destination Germany brand and inspiring our customers’ travel plans for next year.” The ‘German Summer Cities 2021’ will focus on five thematic clusters: ‘Nature and the City’ focuses on the broad spectrum of nature and activity offers in the city and directly at the gates of the cities. ‘Sights’ also highlights lesser-known highlights in metropolises and smaller cities. ‘Romanticism’ gives suggestions for dream routes to indulge and linger. ‘Art and Culture’ spans the arc from classical culture, tradition and customs to contemporary art experiences. ‘Entertainment’ inspires trips to Germany on the occasion of small and large events that will take place in 2021. Petra Hedorfer continues, “With great commitment, many partners in Germany’s tourism industry have adapted to the needs of customers …

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