Dubai, Abu Dhabi
, UAE
- April 3, 2010:
After last year's successful promotional tour in the United Arab Emirates, the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) again showcased the country's attractions to the local travel industry and media with a road show, under the heading "Dallal fi Almania" ("Feel Good in Germany"), held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai and the Intercontinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The workshop in Dubai showcased to the local travel industry and media Germany's initiatives aimed at becoming further acquainted with the needs of Emirati visitors. A similar workshop was held the following day in Abu Dhabi, amid great interest from the local travel industry and press representatives.
Antje Roeding emphasized the importance this holds: "GNTO has embarked on a strategy of engaging Emarati travellers directly in the region through various activities. The workshop 'Dallal fi Almania' and the response we have seen in Dubai and Abu Dhabi indicate that we are on the right path. GNTO plans to further intensify its efforts to consolidate Germany's standing as a preferred travel destination for UAE nationals."
During the road show, Germany's regional representatives provided pertinent information about their respective areas, with the aim of engaging and attracting more tourists from United Arab Emirates. The dialogue between the participants and their audience resulted in great enthusiasm on both sides.
"Our visit to the UAE has had a very positive outcome for it has enabled us to increase our understanding of the region and inform travel agents and the media about our country. We were very pleased with the response in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which made the event a great success," Roeding added, and continued to say that, "We have titled the workshop 'Dallal fi Almania - Feeling well in Germany' because, while of course we have wonderful nature and picturesque towns and excellent hotels and high-class restaurants and varied shopping opportunities … in the end, most importantly, we offer the guests from United Arab Emirates our German hospitality, which shows itself both in the famous German quality of service as well as in the warmth of the welcome we extend to each and everyone who is visiting our nation."
Over the past few years, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of GCC tourists who have been spending their holidays in Germany. Statistics recently published by the German Federal Statistics Office indicate that the number of arrivals by GCC nationals in Germany during 2009 has reached 258,883, the majority of which were GCC tourists that came from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, indicating a 7.07% increase compared to 2008. This makes the Gulf an important foreign market for the German tourism industry and in response to this dynamic growth Germany is continuing its efforts to attract more GCC visitors by creating new offers that meet specific needs. The increase in the number of GCC visitors to Germany over the past few years has enabled the organization to identify their needs and adapt accordingly. For instance, many of Germany's major cities have begun to offer guidebooks in Arabic and to rent out furnished apartments for families, as an alternative to hotel rooms.
Germany's efforts are greatly aided by its almost 30 representative offices throughout the world. Of those, the GNTO in Dubai is responsible for promoting Germany in all the major markets of the Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Whether seeking cost-efficient or luxury vacations, travellers to Germany have a variety of itineraries from which to choose. The picturesque German scenery includes lakes, forests and snow-capped mountains, making it ideal for a wide range of outdoor pursuits including hiking, rowing, horse-riding and skiing. Its modern cities offer an eclectic mix of cultural activities and are home to some of the most popular shopping districts in Europe, while families with small children can enjoy exploring the country's many amusement and leisure parks.
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