Exploring Nuremberg at the 43rd Germany Travel Mart
NEARLY 1,000 international buyers and tour operators, including an Australian contingent, descended on the historic Bavarian city of Nuremberg for the 43rd Germany Travel Mart last week.
Participants took part in pre-convention tours, visiting places such as Munich, the Franconian Lake District, Berlin, Hamburg and UN Heritage-listed locations in Frankfurt and Bamberg.
Australian representatives were Isabel Beckermann, Flight Centre Global Product; Martyn Paterson, Outdoor Travel; Ruzica Kleskovic, Scenic; Brad Atwal, Utracks; and Jack May, Albatross Tours.
A lavish welcome party by the German National Tourist Board included a performance by the Nuremberg Philharmonic Orchestra at the Opera House and a feast at the German National Museum.
The Germany Travel Mart coincided with arts festival Blaue Nacht - which saw more than 100,000 people flock to the city to admire illuminations projected across buildings including The Imperial Castle.
After showcasing many destinations at the Travel Mart, a pop-up Christmas market was erected with still-warm gingerbread, mulled wine and the traditional Nuremberg white sausages in a bun.
About 36 million international guests visited Germany last year, with a forecast increase in international visits of between 3-4% this year.
The 2018 national tourism campaign was revealed at the Germany Travel Mart - with ‘culinary Germany’ to be the focus.