TORONTO — The German National Tourist Board (DZT) has reported strong tourism growth from Canada in the first half of 2017, with FIT travellers in particular leading the charge.
From January to and including May 2017, overnight figures show an overall increase of 7.3% over the same period in 2016. March and May 2017 were especially strong, both months breaking the 11% mark (11.8% and 11.9%, respectively).
According to Antje Splettstoesser, the German National Tourist Office’s Director for Canada, contributing to these positive results are Canadian FIT travellers, who seem to like Germany’s well-developed tourism infrastructure.
“We have also noticed increasing interest in Germany’s culinary scene, which with close to 300 Michelin stars extends well beyond our luscious bratwursts and distinctive beers. After busy hours of touring castles, towns and cities, or pedalling along one of Germany’s many meandering rivers, there is just nothing like sitting in a quiet restaurant or leafy beer garden to look back on the day with a glass of local wine or a cool brew,” she said. “Also, value for money has always stood us in good stead in Canadian eyes. For the end of the year, we look forward to the continuing upward travel trend from Canada for Destination Germany.”
Overall, preliminary results from the German Federal Statistical Office for January to and including June indicate 36.7 million international overnight stays in accommodations with 10 or more beds, 1.2 million more than for the same period the previous year, an increase of 3%.
Global tourism is forecast to continue to develop positively for the rest of the year. At the beginning of 2017, UNWTO predicted a growth potential of 3% to 4% for international arrivals worldwide, and 2% to 3% for Europe. And according to Forward Keys, international flight bookings to Germany for the third quarter, up to the beginning of August, are 5.6% higher than in the previous year.
“With a growth of 3% and more than one million additional overnights in the first half of the year, Destination Germany presents a very good half-year result among the international competition. It would appear that Germany as a travel destination is more popular than ever,” said Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the DZT.
