Outbound

GNTB organises first road show for the travel trade

Andrea Lopez - Mumbai

The German Tourism National Board (GNTB) was in the state recently along with its partners to promote various products to the travel trade fraternity in Mumbai. Addressing the media was Horst Lommatzsch, destination manager Asia, GNTB. "We are here to promote Germany as leisure and not just a MICE destination," he said.

He added, "Although 75 per cent of tourists into Germany come from Europe, the Asian market has been steadily improving." The year 2006 saw 1,38,000 Indian visitors to Germany and the country has recorded a 36.5 per cent growth between June 2006 and June 2007, with Frankfurt playing host to maximum number of visitors. In fact, Germany is the second most popular European destination among Indians.

GNTB set up its shop in India in 2006 and this was their first road show along with its partners - tourism boards of the various states in Germany. "We are here to bridge the gap between our state tourism boards and the Indian travel trade," Lommatzsch informed.

Home to over 6,000 museums and more than 150 theme and adventure parks, the GNTB is focusing on creating theme products to promote tourism. The year 2006 was termed as the 'Year of Shopping'. The current year is being sold as the 'Year of Art and Culture.' Lommatzsch added, "To showcase some of the unique products of Germany, its fairytale castles, museums and theme parks, we have decided that the year 2007 will be the year of Germany as a romantic getaway. About 50 per cent of Germany constitutes of verdant meadows that people aren't even aware of."

Apart from investing € 35 million annually to promote tourism, the GNTB is also looking at selling itself as a potential film destination. "We are looking at a better understanding with Bollywood to promote our country," commented Lommatzsch. He added, "Although we work closely with our neighbours, Austria, Switzerland and France to sell tour packages, we are hoping to build Germany as more of a stand alone destination."

Lufthansa German Airlines recently began operating flights from Delhi to Munich, is now hoping to connect Mumbai to the city as well. Werner Heesen, director South Asia, Lufthansa German Airlines said, "When Lufthansa began operations to the country in 1985 with four flights from Mumbai and an equal number from Delhi, India was a very regulated market. The open skies policy pushed us to add more flights, but that still hasn't been sufficient. Our strategic co-operation with Air India since August 2003 permitting code sharing has been faring well and we are exploring possibilities of a closer co-operation with them."

He added that superior airport infrastructure would facilitate more flight operations in and out of the country. "With one third of our passengers being ethnic Indians, I would say the scene looks very promising," Heesen concluded.