The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has said that the country recorded a staggering 318 per cent increase in overnight stays from GCC nationals in the first six months of 2022.
The six GCC countries include UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.
GCC nationals accounted for over 335,000 stays in H1 2022, compared to just under 81,000 in 2021.
Even though this year’s numbers are impressive, Germany has yet to recover to its pre-pandemic figures.
The latest 2022 numbers are still 36.7 per cent lower compared to the corresponding period of 2019.
“The GCC is the top Asian source market,” said Yamina Sofo, director of sales and marketing at the German National Tourist Office, the regional office of GNTB. “Pandemic recovery has long been top of mind and it’s encouraging to see that both longstanding and first-time travellers are increasingly keen to explore everything that Germany has to offer.”
Overall, the Asian source markets have recorded a 252.3 per cent increase in overnight visitors, an increase of a little over 217,000 to just under 800,000 in six months.
To encourage the growth in visitor numbers, the GNTB has launched its ‘Feel Good’ campaign, which highlights Germany’s eco initiatives and provides tourists with information to reduce their carbon footprint during their travels.
The ‘German.Local.Culture’ campaign meanwhile which was activated in March this year focused on driving awareness of a number of traditional experiences in Germany including national crafts and customs, local fare, and the diversity of the history-rich cities. The ‘Embrace German Nature’ campaign which began in April highlighted the country’s outdoor and nature-focused offerings.