Excerpts from issue No. 12, Vol. 10, December 2006

German consumers went on 47 million trips of 2 to 4 days length in 2005, plus 9.8% compared to 2004. According to “Reiseanalyse 2006“, they thus spent a total of 11.92 billion Euro, plus 14.3%. 35 million short trips were domestic (74.2%) with a total spending of 8.61 billion Euro (63.4%). Spain enjoyed a plus in market share of 2.6%. Italy for the first time registered more German short trip visitors than France.
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German tour operators recorded total sales of 19.6 billion Euro in the tourist year 2005/2006, having ended October 31, that is plus 1% compared to the year before. The number of customers rose by 2% to 37.5 million, according to the German Travel Association (DRV). Growth can be observed especially for modular holidays, high-class vacation and deep-discount offers. German travel agents report total commissioned sales of 20.6 billion Euro, plus 0.5%. The demand for business travel products was especially strong. Germany continues to have the worldwide highest density of travel agents: 12,639 as of January 2006.
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East Germans are uncertain about their holidays next year, the “Reisebarometer 2007“ of the Leipziger Institut für empirische Forschung (Leif) writes. Because of the VAT rise in January, many consumers hold back with definite plans. Only half of 1,200 citizens asked know they will travel next year, that is 4 percentage points less than last fall. Leif expects 70% of consumers to go on a holiday (2001: 77%), spending an average of 942 Euro (2006: 826 Euro). But only a third will do so more than once a year (2002: 40%). The destination Germany with a current market share of 27% will profit from the situation, Leif thinks. Also Spain will remain strong.
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55% of European business travelers admit that some of their business trips were unnecessary, 58% adding that it was a great way to socialize. These results come from a survey done by Ipsos Mori, commissioned by visual communication specialist Tandberg. The study reflects the views of over 1,400 international business travelers across seven countries - Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy. The most enjoyable benefit as far as the travelers were concerned was experiencing new cultures as referenced by 69% of respondents. 51% described travel as a “necessary evil”.

Excerpts from issue No. 11, Vol. 10, November 2006

The "Best Ager", affluent and travel-experienced customers between 50 and 64 years, are currently the largest and most interesting German target group of the tourism industry, Werner Sülberg, Director Marketing Research of Deutsches Reisebüro GmbH, recently said in a hearing before the Tourism Committee of the German Parliament in Berlin. Demand for travel products is more and more split up between shrinking and inhomogeneous groups like bargain hunters and de luxe shoppers, he said. These customers are not concerned about their basic needs but want to satisfy their emotions and are interested in experiencing new impressions. Best Ager are irritated by terms like „custom-made for senior citizens“, „ custom-made for handicapped” or “barrier-free”, Felizitas Romeiss-Stracke of the Munich Büro für Sozial- und Freizeitforschung said. Johann W. Wagner of the marketing cooperation of towns in Schleswig-Holsteins, recommended to restaurants, to offer half portions, but not to advertise “servings for senior citizens”. Best Ager are the most active travel group, Ulrich Reinhardt of the BAT Freizeit-Forschungsinstitut in Hamburg, told the politicians. While families with children have an average yearly income of 17,500 Euro, senior citizens enjoy an average of 19,000 to 20,000 Euro. The experts stressed the fact that overall demand will stagnate because of the demographic development in the country.
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In 50.2% of families in West Germany children have a high or very high influence on the holiday destination choice, in East Germany that percentage is only 42.5 %, according to a study of Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH. 22.9% of the parents in the Western part of the country deny their children any part in the decision-making process, but 36% in the East. Once at the holiday destination, 39% of East German families let children help choose leisure activities, of their Western pals that percentage is only 29%. 50% (West) respectively 57% (East) include childrens’ opinions in choosing the accommodation. Western families prefer holiday homes much more than families from the East do.
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Only 20% of museums in Germany have a share of 10% or higher of non-local visitors, according to the study "Kultur-Tourismus-Research 2006“ of Hamburg consultant Dr. Steinröx. Private museums do better than public institutions, the research revealed. They are more active in providing package components like food and beverage or accommodation, and thus enjoy a visitor mix with higher spending potential for the museum shops and cafeterias.

Excerpts from issue No. 10, Vol. 10, October 2006

Travel spending of German consumers will increase by 5% in the last four months this year compared with the same period 2005, Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK) commissioned by ITB Berlin claims. The VAT hike from 16 to 19% in January is named as the reason. Next year travel spending will climb only 2%, according to the ITB-Reiseindikator. Travel to the Canaries, Florida, the Caribbean, Thailand and South East Asia will profit from the trend, ITB director Michael Buck predicts, whereas Sri Lanka and Bali will enjoy little growth. Also European winter destinations may do well.
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The prices of private individual travel flights in Germany were up about 26% from August 2000 to August 2006. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, that increase is entirely due to surcharges not contained directly in the ticket price. Not considering such charges, the prices would have been down by nearly 4% over the same period. The consumer price index was up 10.5% from August 2000 to August 2006. The main reason for the rise of air travel prices are the kerosene surcharges introduced in summer 2004, without which prices would have been up by just under 12%. Another inflation factor is the ticket service charge, introduced in late 2004. Without that charge, the price rise would have been 16%. Without the security charge of 2001, the price rise would have been 21%. Ticket prices grew by 2.4% between August 2005 and August 2006; without charges, prices would have decreased by 2.7%. Tickets for domestic economy flights would have been 46% less in August 2006 compared to August 2000 without charges, but in reality are 30% higher. Prices for Business Class tickets for intercontinental flights grew by 25% in that period; without surcharges the growth would have been 18%.
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The USA and France are the most important business travel destinations for the German economy, closely followed by China. EU newcomer Poland is also among the top ten. Two markets will dominate travel interests in the future: the USA and China. No other countries will be as important for business trips as these two different giants, the VDR Business Travel Report Germany 2006 claims.

Excerpts from issue No. 9, Vol. 10, September 2006

Expedia.de has tried to look into the soul of the German tourist. An online survey revealed that Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt are seen as "exotic“, but have a high comfort factor because of their perceived hospitality. Mexico, Brazil and South Africa range in the category “calculated risk”, whereas Japan, Borneo and Namibia find themselves in the group of destinations offering a distinct cultural kick. 31% of all respondents resent acoustic signals of those enjoying a meal, 19% are repelled by food like crickets and worms and 16% really dislike obnoxious local vendors. 62% can do without fellow tourists getting drunk, 39% are irritated by Frenchmen refusing to communicate in English. Of foreign customs, which should be imported to Germany, two rank top: to greet persons without being introduced to them and to enjoy Italian-style family life.
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More than 50% of corporate MICE planners in Germany work with an annual budget of between 25,000 and 499,000 Euro; less than 10% manage a budget of more than 2.5 million Euro. As the Vereinigung Deutscher Veranstaltungsorganisatoren e.V. in cooperation with the Technische Universität Chemnitz found out in a study, 36% of corporate planners plan, organize and run international events, the others look after events in Germany only. Almost 70% of corporate planners spend less than half of their work capacity for event planning. Most of them concentrate on booking facilities, F&B and rooms, less than half book entertainment programs, less than 30% are interested in congress halls. More than 50% of the decisions concerning a meeting facility are done by one person. 74% of corporate MICE planners use two to four research methods: 88.5% use the Internet, 80.4% ask for recommendations, 60% consult hand books and 40.1% rely on agencies. 84% of corporate planners request proposals of two to five meeting facilities.
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German seaports counted 29.5 million passengers in 2005, minus 1.1% compared to 2004. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 29.1 million used ferries or pleasure boats, 400,000 passengers were from cruise ships. 16.8 million passengers (57%) sailed between domestic ports. Most frequented foreign ports were in Denmark (Baltic Sea), Sweden and Norway.
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German Rail reports over 550 million passengers of the ICE train system since 1991. In 2005, 67 million passengers were counted. The daily passenger average now is 180,000. There are 236 ICE trains in operation, connecting over 100 German cities and destinations in The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria. Travelling time with ICE between e.g. Berlin and Hamburg is 90 minutes, between Frankfurt and Cologne 72 minutes and between Nuremberg and Munich 60 minutes.

Excerpts from issue No. 8, Vol. 10, August 2006

To promote local tourism in Germany, 2,300 different brochures are produced annually with a combined circulation of 55 million. Each district publishes an average of 6.6 catalogues and directories. Annual costs of 114 million Euro for print material make up 40 to 60% of marketing budgets. Many publications lack quality.
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German business travelers spent 11.3 billion Euro worldwide in hotels in 2005, VDR The Business Travel Association of Germany and BearingPoint found out in a survey. That was plus 12% compared to the year before. 8.6 billion Euro (76%) was spent in Germany. The average cost per hotel night was 142 Euro, plus 10 Euro compared to 2004. The total number of hotel nights reached 51.3 million, plus 3.4%.
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18.2 million passengers departed from German airports in the first quarter of this year, the Federal Statistical Office says, plus 4.5% compared to Q1 2005. The number of domestic passengers grew by 9.8% to 5.6 million, the number of international passengers by 2.3% to 12.6 million.

Excerpts from issue No. 7, Vol. 10, July 2006

65.6% of Germans surveyed by www.meinestadt.de and Deutscher Tourismusverband (DTV) said they would spend their holidays in Germany this year. While 42.8% plan to stay at home or in their region, 22.8 plan to travel within the country. 34.4% said they will travel abroad.
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TUI is merging its tour operation and distribution activities into a single marketing entity. In future, all high-volume brands (TUI, 1-2-FLY and Airtours) as well as distribution will be operated under one central organisation. Up to 400 jobs will be cut in the framework of the new structure. The first stage of the personnel reduction scheme will largely affect the top and middle management levels at TUI Deutschland GmbH. TUI’s CEO Michael Frenzel expects efficiency and cost improvements worth around 50 million Euros generated in the German market by 2008.
In future, the management of TUI Deutschland will have three (instead of six) members. Volker Böttcher, the head of TUI Deutschland, will be in charge of the high-volume business (traditional sun & beach holidays). Henrik Homan, the head of finance TUI Deutschland, will also be in charge of the specialty business (long-haul tours, city breaks, self-drive tours, self-catering holidays). Christoph Müller will continue to be in charge of the airline business in the source market. Norbert Munsch left the TUI management. Sören Hartmann became new General Manager of Robinson Club GmbH (Max-Peter Droll continues to also be GM of the TUI premium club brand).
The operative business will be managed by four operational heads. The purchasing, product and brochure production operations will be managed by Ralf Horter, formerly member of the top management. Ingo Burmester will be in charge of pricing, control and marketing, besides his functions at Hapagfly. Hasso von Düring will be in charge of all distribution operations in Germany. These three managers will directly report to Volker Böttcher. The activities in the so-called specialty business will be managed by Kirsten Feld-Türkis, who will directly report to Henrik Homan. TUI AG’s two German airlines will continue to be managed by Christoph Müller (Hapagfly) and Roland Keppler (Hapag-Lloyd Express).
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Europe enjoyed another record tourism year in 2005, with arrivals up more than 4% over 2004, according to “European Tourism Insights 2005 & Outlook for 2006” of the European Travel Commission (ETC). The result is especially impressive given that Europe suffered more than its share of disasters in 2005 – from terrorist attacks to floods, droughts and forest fires, the ETC says. Moreover, the economic and political environment was not overly conducive to travel and tourism growth in all countries. Some 18 million additional arrivals were generated by the growth – 43% of the world increase in 2005. The big winner in terms of arrivals growth was Turkey (+21%), but a number of other destinations also recorded strong double-digit increases, including Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco and Greece. In terms of overnight volume, Latvia led the growth by a very wide margin (+34%) ahead of Lithuania (+15.5%), Monaco (+14%) and Bulgaria (+13%). A number of countries still do not have final figures. There has been no change in the top five European rankings of arrivals and receipts. France still leads in terms of arrivals, ahead of Spain, Italy, the UK and Germany, but it takes second place to Spain in the international receipts' ranking.

Excerpts from issue No. 6, Vol. 10, June 2006

54% of Germans plan a summer vacation this year, the “Urlaubsbarometer” of the Europ Assistance Group found out (average of seven European countries: 60%). 85% stay in Europe – 26% in Germany, 41% in Southern Europe. 70% will go to beach destinations (2005: 67%), 19% prefer mountains.18% plan around the soccer world championship. 30% plan to go one week, 57% two weeks, 20% three weeks. 47% consider terror threats when selecting their destination, 21% are influenced by Bird Flu, 36% social and political unrest and 21% natural disasters. 38% (2005: 26%) will book through the Internet, 42% prefer travel agents.
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Germans feel increasingly insecure concerning travel. 49% call themselves “careful” these days, the Elvia “Sicherheitsbarometer” reveals, in contrast to only 39.7% last year. On the other hand 22.3% see themselves as “carefree” (2005: 18.5%). Major individual reasons for feeling insecure are health risks, the personal economic situation and terror threats. The product-related insecurity index fell from 32.3% to 28.7%. But 5.7% identify their tour operator as the number one security risk, and 12.1% think that problems with tour operators are among the top risk factors.
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The 200 top-performing German hotels reached combined net sales of 2.63 billion Euro last year, plus 3.7% compared to 2004. According to the annual statistic of trade magazine „Der Hotelier“, the average occupancy rate grew 0.9 percentage points to 64.3%, but the average net room rate fell 0.9 percentage points to 101.62 Euro. The Top 200 combine about one third of total sales of all 11,000 German hotels. The top-performing hotels are Estrel Berlin (net sales: 47.7 million Euro), Sheraton Frankfurt Hotel & Towers, Bayerischer Hof Munich, InterContinental Berlin, Sport- und Kurhotel Sonnenalp in Ofterschwang and Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin.
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German companies have a larger degree of certainty about their business travel plans than last year, the first results of the “VDR Business Travel Report Germany 2006 in co-operation with BearingPoint” suggest. A large majority of them expect stable or growing travel activities next year. The percentage of companies avoiding a forecast dropped by half. 30% of companies expect to travel more within Europe and 28% say they will book more intercontinental flights. VDR The Business Travel Association of Germany will publish the whole report September 19.

Excerpts from issue No. 5, Vol. 10, May 2006

Tourism to German cities generates sales of 82 billion Euro per year and secures 1.6 million jobs. City tours are defined as being motivated by visiting a congress or a fair, doing shopping or being culturally active. As the study „Staedte- und Kulturtourismus in Deutschland“, commissioned by the Deutscher Tourismusverband (DTV), shows, 41 billion Euro are spend in shops, 24 billion Euro in restaurants, 6 billion Euro for leisure and entertainment and 6 billion Euro in accommodations. The 203 German cities screened enjoyed the benefits of 2.2 billion tourist days. 1.51 billion days are attributed to tourists staying a day resulting in spending of 51 billion Euro. 409 million days are attributed to business travelers staying a day with total spending of 11 billion Euro. 180 million tourist days are classified Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR); the spending volume here is 6 billion Euro. 110 million days were counted in various accommodations which results in spending of 14 billion Euro. Day visitors spend an average of 32.40 Euro per day, VFR even spend 33.60 Euro. When an accommodation is used, the average spending is 128.90 Euro per day.
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The most dynamic European source markets in 2005 were Spain (with 15% more outbound rips) as well as Russia and Poland (with 14% more outbound trips each), according to “Preliminary World Travel Monitor Results” from IPK international. Solid figures are also noted for the source markets Ireland, Norway and Denmark (with 8% more trips each) as well as France with +7%. In 2005, the Europeans took a total of 370 million outbound trips (+4% over the previous year), thereby spending 3.5 billion nights abroad (+2%). These outbound trips generated a volume of spending totalling 330 billion Euro (+5% increase over the previous year). Leaping +20%, the “city trip” segment achieved the greatest growth in 2005. Also the “winter (snow) holiday” registered an exuberant +12% growth. The segment “holiday in the mountains” exhibited a plus of 8%. The leading type of holiday for the Europeans – “Sun&Beach” – gained +3%.
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The German cruise market continues to grow. Last year 965,000 passengers booked a cruise, plus 8.5% compared to 2004. According to the study "Der Kreuzfahrtenmarkt Deutschland 2005" of Deutscher ReiseVerband (DRV), sales of ocean-going cruises reached 1.22 billion Euro, plus 7.2%. The average price for an ocean-going voyage was 1,913 Euro (2004: 1,955 Euro). The average length of an ocean-going cruise was 9.6 days (2004: 9.8 days). Market share of European routes increased by 11%.
Sales of river cruises reached 370.4 million Euro, plus 4.1%. The number of passengers grew to 326,000, plus 6.2%. The average price for a river voyage was 1,137 Euro, minus 2%. The average length of a river cruise was 8.06 days (2004: 8.08 days).
The number of German cruise passengers has tripled since 1993. 75% of operators of ocean-going cruises expect further growth this year compared to 55% of river cruise operators.

Excerpts from issue No. 4, Vol. 10, April 2006
 
German tour operators enjoyed sales of 19.4 billion Euro last year (plus 5% compared to 2004), according to the German Travel Association (DRV), and expect a similar growth this year. The number of travel agency offices dropped by 8.1% to 12,600, their combined turnover was 20.5 billion Euro, much the same as the year before. Still over 90% of organized holiday travel in Germany is booked through agents, DRV says. The average holiday trip 2005 lasted 11.0 days (minus 0.1 day) and cost 525 Euro (minus 9 Euro), not including additional expenses at the destination.
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Germans took a total of 282 million domestic/outbound trips in 2005, thereby spending 1.4 billion nights away from home, according to preliminary results of “World Travel Monitor” from IPK international, Munich. In comparison to the previous year, travel volume thus rose by +3%, overnight accommodation volume by +1%. The domestic/outbound trips taken by the Germans in 2005 led to a total spending volume of 120 billion Euro (+2% increase). Holidays accounted for 47% of the domestic/outbound trips taken by the Germans, and reflect a +3% volume increase over the past year. The other private trips (at a 40% market share) recorded a +1% gain. German business trips also increased again in 2005 (+6%). In greater detail, the Germans took 206 million domestic trips and 76 million outbound trips during 2005. Compared to the year before, growth was +3% in domestic trips and +2% in outbound trips.
In 2005, the Germans took a total of 79 million domestic holidays, a +3% increase over the previous year. There was a somewhat higher rise (+4%) in volume for the German outbound holidays (55 million in total). With a market share at 16%, Spain was the leading outbound holiday destination for the Germans in 2005, followed by Austria at 14% and Italy at 13%. France and Turkey also ranked among the “Top 5” outbound holiday destinations of the Germans in 2005.
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ITB Berlin 2006, the world’s leading travel trade fair, continues to attract record audiences. The number of trade visitors rose by 12.6% to 94,553 and 68,270 members of the public were registered, a 17% rise compared with the previous year. The number of exhibiting companies reached 10,856 (plus 4.3%). Around a quarter of all trade visitors came from outside Germany. Among the trade visitors in 2006 there were some 15% more decision-makers compared with last year. As in the previous year exhibitors at the ITB were very satisfied with their commercial results at the fair: 92% are provisionally planning to attend again at the ITB Berlin 2007 (2005: 89%). 95% of exhibitors are satisfied with the commercial results of their participation, a 10% improvement over the previous year. 96% of the general public visiting this year’s fair would recommend the fair to acquaintances or colleagues, 88% intend to return next year (2005: 84%). In addition to Princess Ubol of Thailand the ITB Berlin 2006 was also attended by 103 ministers, deputy ministers and under-secretaries as well as 86 ambassadors and chargés d‘affaires. There were 21 ministers and under-secretaries from Germany at the ITB Berlin.
The 40th ITB Berlin saw a 17% rise in attendance at the 3rd ITB Convention Market Trends & Innovations, from 6.000 to 7,000. With 273 speakers and 88 individual events it provided insights into current trends and innovative business models in the tourism sector. Among the events that made a successful debut were the “ITB Hospitality Day” and the “ITB Marketing & Sales Day”. A major contributory factor has been the Travel Technology Convention under the title of “TRAVDEX@ITB”. The “Business Travel Days” covered all five days of the fair; attendance doubled compared with last year, and now comprises some 2,000 travel managers, business travel experts and office managers.
ITB Berlin 2007 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 7 to 11 March 2007. From Wednesday until Friday midday admission will be restricted to trade visitors only.
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The German low-cost international market for March increased in frequency and capacity by 15 and 16% respectively compared to March 2005, OAG says. This represents an additional 2,000+ flights and just over 352,000 seats respectively. The domestic market enjoys a growth of 40% in the number of flights and 36% in low-cost seat capacity. These increases equate to an additional 2,000 domestic flights and just fewer than 240,000 low-cost seats within Germany. Since 2001 when low-cost airlines accounted for only 1% of the total traffic to/from and within the country, the German market has experienced a dramatic increase. Today low-cost flights account for 18% of the total traffic to/from and within Germany. In March 2001 seats on low-cost airlines represented only 1% of the total seat capacity available to/from and within the German market. In March 2006, this figure has grown to 21%.

Excerpts from issue No. 3, Vol. 10, March 2006

Two out of three Germans intend to go on a holiday of at least five days this year, the BAT Freizeit-Forschungsinstitut found out (“22. Deutsche Tourismusanalyse“). 22.1% will stay home (2005: 29.6%), one out of ten is undecided. Only 9.7% plan a trip during the soccer world championship (June 9-July 9). Of those having travel plans, 23.8% want to stay in Germany, 48.1% want to travel to European countries and 11.3% to countries outside of Europe. 16.9% are unsure about travel details. Kids care more about sport infrastructure (70%) than environmental profiles of the destination (42%), East Germans are more sensitive concerning accommodation costs than West Germans (75% vs. 70%). Singles rate restaurants, cafés and bars as very important (80%). The best holiday product combines natural quality (such as scenery), material quality (such as value for money) and immaterial quality (such as friendly staff).
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How German tourists rank international destinations*
o       Scandinavia has the most beautiful scenery.
o       Switzerland offers the healthiest climate.
o       Austria is valued as the country with the cosiest atmosphere.
o       Greece and Turkey are leaders in hospitality.
o       Switzerland and Greece employ the friendliest staff.
o       Italy and the USA are top for their variety of restaurants and bars.
o       Portugal and countries in Asia have the best cooks.
o       Croatia and Slovenia are best for budget accommodation.
o       Scandinavia and Switzerland win in the category “clean and safe“.
o       Spain is the destination with the least communication obstacles (except German-speaking countries).
o       Switzerland is the most environmental-friendly country.
o       Scandinavia offers the best quiet relaxation.
o       The highest overall holiday quality is found in Austria (85%), Greece (83%), Germany (82%), countries of ex-Yugoslavia (81%) and Spain (80%).
* source: 22. Deutsche Tourismusanalyse, BAT Freizeit-Forschungsinstitut

Excerpts from issue No. 2, Vol. 10, February 2006

The image of Germany as a tourist destination is being researched by TNS Infratest and the German National Tourist Board DZT. The study wants to find out if the country will improve her profile through the upcoming FIFA soccer world championship. Data have been collected in seven markets with participating soccer teams: Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland and Sweden. Results of a second research in September/October 2006 will provide data for comparison. Among the existing findings are:
o       Half a year before the tournament starts, 40% of Italians and 64% of the Dutch are aware of the event taking place in Germany.
o       The population percentage of those not at all interested in the event varies between 20% (Japan) and 41% (Netherlands).
o       Of the 12 cities hosting games, Berlin is the best-known (94%), followed by Munich (90%). In the European source markets, 92% were aware of Frankfurt, 91% of Hamburg, 86% of Cologne, 85% of Stuttgart, 81% of Nuremberg, 77% of Hanover and 70% each of Leipzig and Dortmund. Kaiserslautern and Gelsenkirchen are lesser known.
o       In the Non-European source markets Brazil and Japan, more than 75% are aware of Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg.
o       The claim to know Germany pretty well is made by 67% of the Dutch, 40% of the Poles, 35% of the Swedes, 18% of the French, 17% of the Italians, 8% of the Brazilians and 7% of the Japanese.
o       Germany as a tourist destination 2006 is seriously considered by almost 50% of the Swedes, 42% of the Dutch, 11% of the Brazilians and by one out of four in France, Italy and Japan.
o       56% of all respondents said Germany is an ideal host for international sport events.
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ITB Berlin offers five days with business travel topics this year. A congress addresses international travel managers, travel organizers and students during different sessions. All lectures and discussions will be translated German-English and English-German. The „ITB Business Travel Lounge by VDR & HSMA“ in hall 8.1 will host travel managers and provide networking opportunities. Exhibitors wanting to be profiled as business travel suppliers at the fair can obtain a dedicated logo for free and enter specific listings.
www.business-travel.itb-berlin.de

Excerpts from issue No. 1, Vol. 10, January 2006

TUI announced to prepare for setting up a new cruise division. Since a company-owned new ship could start sailing no sooner than summer of 2008, the tourism giant considers to charter capacities until then. They would operate under the brand name TUI Cruises. TUI aims at vessels carrying 2000-2500 passengers.
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The total of air passengers traveling during the 2005 summer flight schedule (April to October) from Germany to foreign destinations amounted to 41.5 million passengers which reflects a growth of 3.1 million travelers (+7.7%) from the corresponding period of the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office reports. Especially in the Mediterranean area the important destinations showed different growth rates: Spain (7.2 million air-passengers, +7.5%) - of which Balearic Islands 3.3 million (+8.3%) and Canary Islands 1.4 million (+2.4%) -, Turkey (4.0 million, +3.7%) and Greece (2.0 million, +2.0%). Other selected areas/destinations: Egypt (0.7 million, -3.5%), Tunisia (0.5 million, +1.5%), Dominican Republic (0.1 million, -4.8%), Asia (3.2 million, +5.9%), China (0.4 million, +19.3%), Japan (0.3 million, +2.0%), Thailand (0.3 million, +3.8%).
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Messe Berlin and the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) will jointly launch a new annual travel fair in North America, TheTradeShow (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo). The fair evolves from the travel show of the ASTA World Travel Congress. The three-day event, which is expected to draw 2,000-4,000 trade visitors from agencies and business travel departments, is scheduled for the second week in September, alternating between Orlando and Las Vegas. This year TheTradeShow will take place September 10-13 in Orlando. The ASTA World Travel Congress hosts also the annual meeting of the National Association of Comissioned Travel Agents and the Forum of the Travel Institute. Also involved in TheTradeShow are the Association of Canadian Travel Agents, the Cruise Lines International Tour Association, the Travel Association of America, the U.S. Tour Operators Association and “USA Today“ as media partner.
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The German National Tourist Board DZT predicts 16 million more foreign visitors in Germany in 2015 than in 2004, when 42.2 million international guests were registered. The European source markets are expected to account for 11 million additional hotel nights in 2015 and the USA and Israel for 1.7 million more. The growth from Asia, Australia and Africa is predicted with 3.4 million additional hotel nights, with China accounting for 1.7 million.
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Otto Freizeit und Touristik GmbH (OFT) will finalize the take-over of Travelchannel.de, Travel Overland and Flug.de. So far the three brands were part of the joint venture Travelocity Europe, owned equally by OFT and Travelocity. Travelocity will concentrate on developing Travelocity.de and the lastminute.com group.