Germany celebrates holidays in the heart of nature

The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) hosted media partners for its annual holiday dinner last with a customs and traditions-themed evening appropriately adjacent to the Distillery District’s Toronto Christmas market.

The evening, which began with bubbly and ended with mulled wine and chocolate, was also a chance for Antje Splettstoesser, director, marketing & sales office – Canada, GNTO to provide an update on Germany’s tourism for 2015 – as well as a preview for the year ahead.

“Our prediction was for [Canadian visitation] to grow by about one to two per cent in overnight stays,” Splettstoesser told PAX, “when in fact we have actually grown by 2.7 per cent from January to October 2015.”

The destination’s travel campaign for 2016 will be ‘Holidays in the Heart of Nature’, she continued – a fitting theme, considering the wealth of choice and experience available through the country’s smaller, culturally-rich towns.

“Once you’re in Germany, there are so many things that one should see, that you may have never heard about before,” Splettstoesser explained of Germany’s lesser-known regions, such as Weimar and Erfurt, which PAX had the opportunity to experience earlier this year.

“There’s great potential for discovery in the more rural areas - a lot of regional and authentic food and experiences,” she said.

The GNTO has worked hard to promote itself to the Canadian market over the past year, from its annual German Travel Mart to hosting trade FAMs showcasing its diverse offerings – to presenting itself as an ideal getaway for the Millennial crowd.

 “Germany has exactly what Canadians want to explore when they visit Europe,” Splettstoesser explained. “It’s got the museums, culture, and food travellers look for.”

And while Germany inarguably holds its own as part of the quintessential European getaway, the GNTO maintains it is also ideal for those seeking a destination with something different to offer by way of its heritage, festivals and customs.

Regardless of what they’re are looking for, Splettstoesser confirmed last night that Canada’s travellers are a strategic part of Germany’s tourism goals, which is presently to grow by one million overnight stays by 2030.

“Between the growth in the Canadian population and the boost in travel provided by both the Baby Boomer and Millennial generations, we see a lot of potential in what Canada has to offer in terms of tourism,” she said.