AST year, Germany had more than two million overnight stays from the GCC countries, which was an increase of 17.7 per cent compared with the previous year. From January 2016 until March 2016, Germany had an increase of overnight stays from the GCC countries of 8.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. The average spend by Arab tourists from the GCC in Germany is €3,685 ($4,160) per trip, including the travel, hotel, shopping and restaurants expenditures.
On the back of these promising statistics, TTN chats with Maria Amaral, director, Marketing and Sales Office, Gulf Countries, German National Tourist Office.
Is the current political climate in the country affecting inbound tourism negatively?
We do not see any indicators that the large number of refugees that arrived last year had any impact on the travel behaviour of Arab visitors, on the contrary the visitor numbers have been rising.
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Amaral… strong projections |
The country saw strong performance this first quarter, and a similarly strong second quarter is projected.
What are the most popular destinations for Arab tourists in the country? Are new popular destinations emerging?
The most popular city destination for Arab visitors is still Munich with around 613,000 overnight stays, Frankfurt has 230,000 overnight stays, Berlin has 145,000 overnight stays and Dusseldorf 80,000 overnight stays.
Cities such as Baden-Baden, Wiesbaden, Heidelberg offer not only cultural attractions, but also activities for families alongside pristine nature and refreshing air from the surrounding forests.
With nature tourism being the focus for Germany this year, what destinations are you promoting to our region?
A third of Germany is actually covered by nature, which means more than 130 national parks and protected reserves, including 15 Unesco biosphere reserves. This means that there is not a specific region or area we promote in the country, as all regions and states have something to offer when it comes to nature.
What about ‘Smart Luxury’?
Smart Luxury is a concept we promote every year in the region. Germany offers great value for money when compared to other cities in Europe, be it on the accommodation prices, the Michelin-star restaurants or the amazing shopping facilities. Clients trust German brands due to the exceptional quality for affordable price.
Do the top source markets from Germany remain the same globally or have they changed?
The GCC states are currently Germany’s 13th biggest source market, accounting for roughly 3 per cent of total inbound tourism.
All markets are important to us, but the country that contributes with the highest number of overnight stays is the UAE (49 per cent), followed by Saudi Arabia (38 per cent) and Kuwait (13 per cent).
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Arabs at the fore at Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin on Potsdamer Platz provides service customised to Arabian guests upon request. When they arrive, guests from the Middle East are greeted with Persian coffee, Arabian tea and fresh oshibori. In the rooms, the guests can expect fresh fruit and nuts. Upon request, this also includes a Koran and prayer rug positioned in the direction of Makkah. “For our guests from the Middle East, religion and faith also play an important role when they travel,” explains Robert Petrović, general director of The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin. “With our individual service, we create a pleasant ambience so that they can enjoy the city of Berlin to the fullest,” according to Petrović.
The five-star superior hotel provides many Arabian television stations and daily newspapers in a digital form. For travels with the entire family, The Ritz-Carlton recommends its total of 51 family rooms. Guests can also enjoy halal meals during their stay, and upon request, foods from the Arabian world will be served in the Brasserie Desbrosses and the exclusive Club Lounge on the 10th floor.
The modern Mall of Berlin – Berlin’s largest shopping centre with 270 high-quality shops – is just a few minutes' walk from The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin.