EVEN as Germany attracts a record visitor numbers from the Gulf, it is going all out to woo the cash-rich tourists of the region with unique promotions. Munich, for instance, has just launched a honeymoon package, targeted specifically at the Gulf market as part of its programme to position Munich as a honeymoon destination. The initiative was kicked off about a month ago in Dubai, UAE and is being promoted in other Gulf countries too, says Ralf Zednik, marketing director of sales, City of Munich, Department of Labour and Economic Development.
The city tourist office, he says, is working in collaboration with tour and travel companies as well as hotels on this promotion. In the UAE, it has already started the promotion with Al Rais Tours & Holidays while it is looking for partners in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.According to him, Munich is the second most popular international destination in Germany among the visitors from the Arab Gulf. Of the 259,427 overnights stays spent by the Arab tourists in Germany, about 40 per cent were spent in Munich. About 45 per cent of the tourists come from Saudi Arabia, 20 per cent from the UAE and the rest from Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.