From January to August 2014, 51.6 million overnight stays by visitors from abroad were recorded in Germany. According to preliminary numbers, Germany’s Federal Statistical Office registered 2.6 million additional overnight stays in accommodations with 10 or more beds, an increase of 5.3% compared to last year. According to German National Tourist Board (GNTB) CEO Petra Hedorfer, “we are looking forward to the fourth quarter with confidence. Approximately 22% of the annual number of international overnight stays occurs during that period, the traditionally popular Christmas markets serving as the engine for solid autumn business.” “Here in Canada, we are indeed seeing increased demand in travel to Germany for the Christmas markets,” says Antje Splettstoesser, Director Marketing and Sales for the German National Tourist Office in Canada.