TokyoTomo Travel Guide

German National Tourism Office hosted a travel seminar on September 1 named “Discover South Germany” alongside “Workshop 2010 to explore South Germany and its vicinities.” At the seminar, the tourism office gave a presentation of the key states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bayern together with their tourism resources. Peter Blumenstengel, regional manager for Asia and Australia, made a remark that, although the year 2009 had been a tough year, total man-nights of the Japanese travelers’ stay grew 37 percent in the first six months of this year over the previous year. Expecting early recovery of travel demand, he expressed his hope to bring the number of man-nights back to the 2008 level.

Both Baden-Wurttemberg and Bayern had fewer Japanese tourists in 2009 year on year. In 2010, however, Baden-Wurttemberg saw a 1.8 percent growth from January through May at 38,722 man-nights, while Bayern, where the number of Japanese tourists had continuously fallen since 2001, experienced an upsurge of 11 percent in the January-June period. From the aspect of air transportation, All Nippon Airways’ service for Narita/Munich commenced on July 1 this year in addition to Lufthansa’s daily flights, which enhances convenience of Japanese tourists visiting South Germany and is expected to serve to the promotion of the region’s tourism.

Many travel agencies in Japan have featured Christmas markets in their tour programs. Munich Tourist Office has decided to issue Christmas Market Passes from 2010. The pass, made of six coupons, entitles the holder to a glass of gluhwein or a piece of handicraft. It costs an individual tourist 20 euros to get it and 10 euros for trade use. It is available to groups as well as to FITs.

Source: Travel Vision

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