The Upper Rhine Valley provides a glimpse of 2015

The countries of the Upper Rhine Valley – Germany, France and Switzerland – are preparing for a busy 2015, as a number of new initiatives get underway and important anniversaries are marked this year.

The three destinations hosted a small group of travel media this week, providing updates on what lies in store for tourism opportunities in the coming year. According to Philippe Chouckroun, director of Access Alsace and head of the Upper Rhine Valley delegation, the three destinations chose this marketing approach as a natural response to European geography and the nature of travel across the continent.

“We are three countries but one destination,” said Chouckroun, explaining the marketing of the region. “It makes sense because anyone going to Europe isn’t going to one city or country; you can cross several destinations while travelling and ours is located very centrally.”

By destination, here’s what 2015 has in store for the Upper Rhine Valley:

Switzerland

The Grand Tour of Switzerland will return in 2015, said Evelyn Lafone of Switzerland Tourism, with different routes (by car or by train) that will take travellers on a cross-country journey and showcase all that Switzerland has to offer.

A unique promotion will also get underway in 2015; Switzerland Tourism is seeking a brand-new TV personality – no experience required – from either Canada or the U.S., to promote the country’s tourism industry. The winner will receive $10,000 and spend 10 days filming in Switzerland, ultimately seeing their efforts launched on North American TV.

Lafone said that Switzerland will also be represented at the 2015 Montreal En Lumiere festival next month, featuring 20 chefs and numerous artists from the country.

Germany

The traditions and customs of Germany will take centre stage in 2015, said Carina Schumacher of the GNTO. With 21 per cent of travellers to Germany drawn to the country for cultural reasons, Schumacher said that everything from traditional foods – beer, sausage and the black forest cake that the URV is known for – to festivals and fashion will be celebrated.

On Oct. 3, Germany will celebrate 25 years of reunification, another milestone drawing travellers to the country, said Schumacher. Celebrations last November – commemorating the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – drew hundreds of thousands of travellers, she added.

The country’s 150 scenic routes, traversing Germany in all directions, will also be highlighted as travel draws this year, she said.

France

With the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I marked last November, France will continue to mark a number of milestones over the coming years, said Melanie Paul-Hus of Destination France.

The Musee des Confluences, commemorating achievements in social science and history, will also open in Lyon this year, said Paul-Hus.

Travellers are also invited to raise a glass to the 300th anniversary of the death of Dom Perignon, she added.

More about the Upper Rhine Valley:

- The region boasts 66 Michelin-starred restaurants; while most of those were traditionally located in France, the bulk can now be found in Germany.

- Europa Park – Europe’s biggest amusement park – celebrates 40 years in the city of Freiburg this year.

- The Strasbourg Cathedral will mark 1,000 years in 2015.

PHOTO: Melanie Paul-Hus, Destination France; Irene Ulrich, Freiburg Tourism/Upper Rhine Valley; Philippe Chouckroun, Alsace Tourism; Ann Muller, Basel Tourism; Nicola Iannone, CroisiEurope (U.S./Canada); Evelyn Lafone, Switzerland Tourism; Carina Schumacher, GNTO; Antje Splettstoesser, GNTO; Yves le Faou, Touren Service Schweda.