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Germany And Its Cities – Ready To Welcome GCC Visitors

Germany and Berlin in particular are popular destinations for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) residents due to unique culture, craftsmanship, nature and culinary experiences

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Pradeep Chamaria
Pradeep Chamaria
I am a photojournalist. Love to travel to unknown and unexplored vistas. Since 1992, I make places desirable for other travelers through experiential Travel Writing.

DUBAI: The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) recently participated in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021. GNTB is Germany’s national tourism organisation. It works on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).

The GNTB wanted to raise awareness of what Germany and in particular Berlin, has to offer city, nature, and culture enthusiasts living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (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.

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Promoting Berlin

The German capital Berlin is also looking forward to welcoming visitors from across the GCC to discover a reinvented city that has something new to discover on every corner, space for free spirits, and a fascinating mix of heritage and innovation.

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Despite a difficult 12-month period, Berlin, this year has realised many landmark projects in the city, such as the opening of the reconstructed city palace, the prestigious Humboldt Forum, and the reopening of Berlin’s leading art addresses, the Neue National Galerie at the Kulturforum, underlining the intriguing nature of this ever-changing city.

The U5 metro line also has a new section connecting Berlin’s many cultural attractions, and the new international Berlin airport (BER) is also now open, a positive signal for improved global connections at a difficult time for the tourism and congress industry.

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Under the Berlin Health Excellence Initiative, launched by visitBerlin in early 2020, the city will also open its doors to medical tourists from the Middle East who visit Berlin in search of ‘Made in Berlin’ medical expertise and cutting-edge medical services that the city is renowned for.

With a recent YouGov survey revealing that nearly half of United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia residents are planning to make an international trip in 2021, the GNTB is eager to increase the GCC’s share of 89.9 million overnight stays by foreign visitors it welcomed in 2019.

Effect of success of vaccinations in UAE

Speaking at the press conference at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, said Yamina Sofo, Director Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries (GNTO), “With the success of the national vaccination programs in the GCC countries, particularly in the UAE where more than 11.5 million doses have been administered so far, 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 travelers 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.

Popularity of Germany among GCC visitors

Germany is extremely popular with GCC visitors; it recorded 1.6 million overnight stays from the Gulf region in 2019 and has a goal of reaching 3.6 million overnight stays by 2030. Germany has a diverse tourism offering, which is centered on its unique culture, craftsmanship, nature, and culinary experiences. German character is encapsulated in many cities, depicting half-timbered architecture one moment to contemporary street art the next, which complements its rich and varied traditions and customs, which in many cases were introduced centuries ago.

There is nothing that speaks louder about its culture than Germany’s exceptional food and drinks that are regional yet still cosmopolitan. Sustainability is often admired by Gulf visitors to Germany as well as the natural beauty of the countryside can be found on the doorstep of many German cities, offering fresh air, open spaces, and spectacular views.

 “As a vibrant cosmopolitan city, you can explore living history, internationally renowned museums, unique galleries, UNESCO sites, and major historical buildings, ” added Ralf Ostendorf, Director Market Management and Market & Media Relations Manager Asia, Australia, Middle East, visitBerlin.

Read Also: Arabian Travel Mart 2021 – Dubai

Author

  • Pradeep Chamaria

    I am a photojournalist. Love to travel to unknown and unexplored vistas. Since 1992, I make places desirable for other travelers through experiential Travel Writing.

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