With a nearly 33 percent increase in Canadian overnights in 2023 to almost 644,000 visitors, Canadians are clearly embracing the German National Tourist Office’s “Simply Feel Good” tourism campaign, as the busy summer travel season approaches – fuelled by 114 non-stop weekly flights between the countries by Air Canada/Lufthansa and Condor.

Anja Brokjans, Director of Canada at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), noted that the recovery rate for overnight stays in 2023 from 2019 reached 87.7%, signalling a resilient bounce-back in tourism after the challenges faced during the pandemic.

Germany has risen to become a popular destination for Canadian travellers, ranking fourth after France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, she added with Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt ranking as the most popular destinations.

This year’s GNTO marketing campaigns, Bokjans said, focusses on three main themes:

• Arts & Culture: Celebrating the nation’s rich artistic tapestry with over 500 theatres, 80 opera houses, 6,000 opera and operetta performances, 6,750 museums, and more than 300 Michelin-starred restaurants. GNTO statistics reveal that 65% of Canadians choose Germany for its arts & culture.
• UNESCO: With 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Germany takes the third spot globally, with the newest addition being the Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt. This addition underscores Germany’s commitment to preserving and celebrating its diverse historical legacy. As part of the immersive experience, enthusiasts can embark on a journey through these exceptional sites using the 8 UNESCO Routes highlighted on the Germany.travel website.
• Feel Good about Travel: Well-kept natural landscapes, regional and fresh cuisine, responsible hosts are the hallmarks of sustainable tourism and form an important part of the German travel experience. The appeal extends to an opportunity to stay longer through “workation” and working from a ‘home away from home,’ made more attractive by lower room rates averaging EUR 106. The extensive train infrastructure with 33,300 km and 5,700 passenger train stations ensures convenient travel, offering direct connections from 150 European cities.

2024 is also a year of celebrations in Germany:

• Germany will host the EURO 2024 football championships from June 14 to July 14, 2024, across 10 host cities, including Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, and more. Live public viewing zones in every town will offer a festive atmosphere with traditional German street food. “There is a party almost everywhere – really, really great,” Brokjans enthused.
• For art enthusiasts, 2024 marks the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich, a master of Romantic painting. Exhibitions in cities like Berlin, Dresden, Greifswald, and Hamburg will celebrate his legacy.
• History buffs will find November in Berlin particularly significant as the city celebrates 35 years since the fall of the Wall. The anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall will be celebrated throughout 2024 with a number of diverse events.

Sustainability

Brokjans emphasized Germany’s dedication to sustainability, stating, “As we strive for environmentally friendly tourism, Germany boasts more than 3,000 certified hotels and catering providers, placing a strong emphasis on sustainable management.”

Germany’s commitment to sustainability is further highlighted with 58,000 e-charging stations for electric vehicles, catering to the preferences of Canadian families keen on exploring routes like the coastal route, and UNESCO family route, and venturing off the beaten path to discover palaces and castles.

Meanwhile, the Green Cities initiative showcases Germany’s dedication to climate-friendly urban spaces, with 17 cities boasting green spaces covering 80% or more of their land areas.

To encourage exploration, Germany also offers the Germany-Train-Ticket extended for €49 a month on public transport, providing an affordable and eco-friendly way to travel within the country.

Both Canada and Germany demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability and addressing climate change, Brokjans noted, with a study conducted by IPK International in September 2023 revealing that 85% of Canadians consider sustainability and climate action to be very important or important factors when travelling to Germany.