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• GCC Visitors Contribute €2.6 Billion to Germany’s Tourism Economy in 2023, Marking a 24% Increase
• New Direct Flights Enhance Accessibility for GCC Travelers
• AI-Driven Influencer ‘Emma’ Engages GCC Travelers with Personalized Digital Experiences for Destination Germany

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Dubai, 19 November, 2024: Germany has reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as one of its leading tourism markets following a high-profile media and trade event co-hosted by the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) and visitBerlin.

The event showcased exciting developments in Germany's travel sector, including new flight routes, digital innovations, and a personalised approach to GCC tourists, who comprise Germany's third-largest overseas tourism market.

In 2023, GCC travellers contributed €2.6 billion to Germany's economy, marking a 24% increase over the previous year—a testament to Germany's appeal and deepening ties with the region.

Germany has recently expanded its direct flight options from the GCC region to accommodate the growing number of tourists, reinforcing its commitment to accessible and convenient travel for GCC visitors. Condor introduced direct flights between Berlin and Dubai, while Eurowings, Germany's prominent low-cost carrier, launched flights from Berlin to Dubai and Jeddah, alongside new routes from Cologne-Bonn airport and Stuttgart. This enhanced connectivity aims to streamline the travel experience for visitors from the Gulf, fostering seamless access to Germany's diverse regions, historic sites, and cultural landmarks.

Burkhard Kieker, CEO of VisitBerlin, said: "Berlin is more accessible than ever for GCC travellers, thanks to enhanced flight connectivity to the region. These connections allow visitors from the GCC to explore Berlin's rich cultural heritage, diverse neighbourhoods, and renowned medical facilities. Our goal is to offer seamless, enriching travel experiences tailored to the unique preferences of GCC tourists, strengthening our bond with the region."

In 2025, Berlin will celebrate key anniversaries, including the 200th anniversary of its renowned Museum Island and the reopening of historic sites such as Peacock Island's Lustschloss. With its blend of modern attractions and heritage sites, Berlin offers Muslim-friendly amenities, halal dining, and premier healthcare facilities, making it a popular destination for GCC tourists seeking a mix of leisure and wellness.

Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales and Marketing at GNTO, said: "Our approach to tourism is deeply rooted in offering diverse, immersive experiences tailored to the unique preferences of GCC travellers. Through our targeted campaigns, such as ‘Simply Feel Good’, ‘CultureLand Germany’, and ‘Tourism for All,’ we aim to highlight the breadth of Germany’s cultural and natural beauty. Each initiative reflects our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility—whether by promoting eco-friendly destinations, celebrating Germany’s rich historical landmarks, or ensuring every traveller can fully engage with our offerings. We invite GCC visitors to explore Germany’s dynamic blend of modern attractions and timeless heritage, crafted with their needs in mind for a truly enriching journey.”

Berlin's vibrant cultural scene, featuring a range of family-friendly activities, Michelin-starred restaurants, and historical sites, continues to attract GCC visitors.

Known for its cosmopolitan and welcoming spirit, Berlin is home to a thriving Muslim community. The city has about 80 mosques and prayer rooms, especially concentrated in the Kreuzberg, Wedding, and Neukölln neighbourhoods. Iconic sites like the Omar Ibn al-Khattab Mosque and the Şehitlik Mosque, adjoining Germany's first Islamic cemetery, highlight Berlin's respect for diverse faiths. The forthcoming House of One, where three religions will each have their own prayer space, further reinforces Berlin’s commitment to dialogue and multiculturalism.

To further engage GCC travellers, GNTO introduced "Emma," a new AI-powered virtual influencer designed to inspire and assist potential visitors. As a modern, tech-savvy Berlin resident, Emma shares personalised travel insights and real-time updates on her Instagram channel, @EmmaTravelsGermany. The innovative tool reflects GNTO's focus on advanced digital engagement to connect with audiences in multiple languages, meeting GCC travellers' demand for interactive and personalised trip planning.

Sofo added: "Emma's launch marks a significant step in our digital engagement strategy, enabling us to interact with travellers across various platforms. This innovation underscores our commitment to meeting GCC travellers' needs for more personalised, immersive travel experiences. Emma is a virtual bridge, enhancing accessibility to Germany's diverse offerings."

Emma's development aligns with GNTO's broader AI and Open Data initiatives, combining real-time travel information with a customer-centred approach to elevate the visitor journey. By integrating technology with a focus on user experience, GNTO aims to enhance Germany's visibility as a global tourism leader, offering GCC visitors a seamless, enriching experience.

For more information about destination Germany, please visit the German National Tourist Office website at www.germany.travel.

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About visitBerlin

"Inspiring the world for Berlin." With this mission, Berlin Tourism & Congress GmbH operates destination management as well as tourism and congress marketing for Berlin. Operating under the brand visitBerlin, the company is a partner, actor, idea generator, and networker. The focus is on developing sustainable products and promoting responsible tourism offers in all twelve districts. The aim is to maintain the quality of life of the Berliners and to increase the quality of stay for guests. visitBerlin also acts as a tour operator and is the publisher of the official tourist ticket, the Berlin WelcomeCard. The company operates the Berlin Tourist Info Centers as well. Visitors to Berlin can find all information about their trip to Berlin on visitBerlin.de, Berlin's official travel website. Learn more about visitBerlin at about.visitBerlin.de.

About the GNTB

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) works on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to represent Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry in accordance with a decision taken by the German Bundestag. Working closely with the German travel industry and private-sector partners and trade associations, the GNTB develops strategies and marketing campaigns to promote Germany’s positive image abroad as a travel destination and to encourage tourists to visit the country.

The GNTB’s primary strategic areas of action are:

• Conducting targeted market research and analysis of market-specific customer demand in relation to various aspects of travel in the context of sustainability and culture among those with values-based lifestyles.
• Supporting the travel industry, which is dominated by small and medium-sized businesses, through relationship management and the sharing of knowledge.
• Raising awareness of the Destination Germany brand and enhancing the brand profile with a focus on sustainability and climate change mitigation.

Focus on sustainability and digitalisation

The GNTB promotes forward-looking tourism in line with the objectives of the German government. The focus here is on sustainability and digitalisation.

To make inbound tourism more sustainable and competitive, our organisation follows a three-pillar strategy that combines the sharing of knowledge with external partners and a supporting communications strategy with our internal sustainability initiative. The GNTB positions Germany as a sustainable and inclusive destination in the international travel market.

The GNTB is a pioneer when it comes to using immersive technologies (virtual, augmented and mixed reality), voice assistants and other conversational interfaces, and artificial intelligence applications such as chatbots. To ensure that tourism offerings are visible on AI-based marketing platforms, the GNTB coordinates the German tourism industry’s open-data/knowledge graph project.

The GNTB has 25 foreign agencies that it manages from its head office in Frankfurt.

For further information and media queries, please contact:

Bashar Antoun | Director of PR | Neo Social & PR

M: +971 55 439 6556 |  germany@neosocialandpr.com  |  www.neosocialandpr.com

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