GNTB in the Middle East the organizers and success makers of the 32nd Germany Travel Mart 2006

It is considered the most important sales event for Germany's inbound travel industry, and is the German National Tourist Board's (GNTB) showcase for Germany as a travel destination. This is the second time that Dusseldorf, Cologne and Bonn have jointly hosted the GTM. They welcomed around 610 invited buyers and journalists from 40 different countries, who used the workshop both as a source of information about the tourism products and services offered by 340 or so German providers and as an opportunity for closing deals.

Mrs. Heike Murad, GCC Manager States, The German National Tourist Board in Dubai, said, "The GTM's focus this year is on the '2006 FIFA World Cup Germany', 'Shopping - made in Germany', 'Germany, home of the motor car' ,'250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart', 'Dresden's 800-year jubilee' and 'Germany's more than 150 scenic routes'. In 2007 the GNTB will focus on the documents 12 exhibition in Kassel and Museums in Germany. In 2008, town festivals in Germany, Munich's 850-year jubilee, Art and Culture in Germany, Parks and Palaces - Romantic Germany and 'Culinary Germany' will be promoted. 'Towns, Cities and Regions' and 'The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall' will feature in 2009, whilst in 2010 the focus will be on the 41st Oberammergau Passion Plays, 200 years of the Munich Beer Festival and the International Construction Exhibition (IBA) in Saxony-Anhalt."

This year the biggest delegation of 48 international buyers was from the USA, followed by the UK, Japan and China/Hong kong, each with 38 participants. Delegations from India and Romania attended the GTM for the first time.

Ms. Heike further stated, "2006 with GNTB gets off to a good start. Preliminary figures for January to February 2006 show a five percent rise in the number of overnight stays by international visitors compared with the same period in 2005. The total number of overnight stays by visitors from abroad recorded by German hotels, guesthouses and campsites was 9.2 million. The number of overnight stays by visitors from the Gulf States grew by 22, 5% in January and February 2006, well above-average for a market with great potential for travel to Germany. In 2005, the number of overnight stays recorded from the GCC States was around 649,000. Statistics show that the number of international visitors coming to Germany from markets such as Asia, the Arab Gulf States and Eastern Europe have a growth potential of 5-10% in 2006."

In the future the GNTB will use a wellness marketing offensive to step up its promotion of the Health & Fitness Holidays product line. The appeal of health-oriented travel is clearly illustrated by the growing number of overnight stays by international visitors in Germany's health resorts and hydrotherapy health resorts experienced above-average growth of 7.7 per cent in 2005. With an increase of 12.8 per cent, seaside health resorts experienced even more impressive growth. Double-digit rises in tour operators' bookings reflect the growing demand in Germany itself for health-related holidays.

Following the GTM, the GNTB offered guests from abroad the opportunity to take part in one of six diverse post-convention tours which encompass a variety of attractions, giving them first-hand experience of "Destination Germany". The themes and destinations of these tours include 'Mozart 250th Anniversary Celebrations in Augsburg and Munich', the German Fairytale Route, 'Art and Culture in Germany' and 'Wellness in Germany'.