Number of Saudi tourists to Germany to rebound by 2023
The number of tourists from Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is likely to be down by around 50 percent in 2021, compared to 2019, but the EU country is aiming to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2023.
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) last week announced that from June 25 Germany will reopen to international tourists who have been vaccinated.
“Germany recorded 1.6 million overnight stays from the Gulf region in 2019, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia being one of the most important markets,” Yamina Sofo, GNTB’s director of sales and marketing for the Gulf, told Arab News.
“We anticipate that there will be strong growth in interest from travelers from across the region, especially during the summer months. Germany is aiming to achieve 800,000 overnight stays from the region, which attributes to 50 percent of the 2019 figures. Germany aims to reach similar figures to 2019 by 2023,” she added.
As part of its global efforts, the GNTB has launched a marketing campaign to help boost numbers from the region.
“Our seasonal campaigns including ‘German.Local.Culture,’ are a key focus for us during the coming months, and form the core of our promotional efforts across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. The campaign aims to inspire travelers to journey off the beaten track when exploring Germany this summer,” Sofo said.
Under the new rules, tourists wishing to enter the country must provide proof that they have received an approved coronavirus disease vaccine, including PfizerBioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson, within the previous 14 days of arrival.
According to surveys, the main reasons for tourists to visit Germany are its culture, outdoor activities and countryside, and the German cities.
It is one of the most visited countries in Europe. Its 16 states are all distinctive in their way, differing in terms of population, landscapes, architecture, history, and even local dialect. Both for domestic and international arrivals, Germany is well-connected in terms of travel routes and options.
A study published jointly in 2017 by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) titled Tourism as an Economic Factor in Germany shows that tourism generated an annual turnover of €290 billion ($346.14 billion) in 2015. The largest share came from the restaurant and catering industry with around 18 percent. 14 percent of the turnover was contributed by visitors from abroad. They spent around €40 billion on their visits to Germany.
With a 3.9 percent share of gross value added, the travel industry is bigger than both mechanical engineering (3.5 percent) and the retail trade (3.3 percent).