| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 15/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 50 |
| Copyright: Other |
Operator update
Cities welcome sharp rise in UK tourist sales
Competitive packages help to boost short-break bookings
Bavaria: the Oberammergau Passion Play and Christmas market’s are included in operator programmes to GermanyWHILE impressive bookings for Hanover Expo 2000 have come as little surprise to operators, they have not been at the expense of other German cities.
Travelscene expanded its city-break programme for 2000 after a growth in business of almost 50% to its five German destinations: Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart, Berlin and Hamburg. Each has its own page in the current brochure.
Travelscene commercial manager Paul Stanley explained that cost is a principal factor in Germany’s recent success, particularly in Munich.
“We forecast further big increases for Munich this year due to the very competitive package prices which have been made possible by the new Lufthansa service from Stansted. Business to the city has grown so strongly in the first quarter and there’s every chance that Munich will hit our top 20 destinations,”he said.
Travelscene’s 2000 lead-in price for a two-night break to Munich, staying at the three-star Hotel Hahn, is £212 – £50 cheaper than last year.
The drop in fares has not been the only factor in attracting UK tourists to Germany – the strength of sterling against the deutschmark has also played a role.
Getting short breaks down to the £200 mark was pivotal, according to Moswin Tours operations manager Nirmal Seth, whose brochure is now based around flights from Stansted.
“Munich used to cost £259 for a weekend break, now the lead-in price is down to £189,” he said.
Again, Lufthansa’s new service from Stansted is credited, as well as a host of other low-cost flights.
Seth also hinted that Germany would be getting cheaper in the near future.
“There should be no reason why you shouldn’t be able to get to the Rhineland for the same price as to France by the end of May,” he said, thanks to a proposed new service from Ryanair.
The short-break market is well known for its potential for pre-bookable add-ons and Germany is no exception. Moswin also offers flights from other airports at a rate commissionable to agents, as well as car hire.
“Daily car hire for short breaks has been popular since we introduced it from £40 per day, all-inclusive,” added Seth.
Among Germany’s other strengths – for 2000 at least – are its numerous events.
The Hanover Expo and the Oberammergau Passion Play are obvious draws for the millennium, but the Munich Beer Festival and the Christmas markets are perennial favourites.
Taber Holidays programmes director Rachel Taber said:”Munich is coming out on top for us this year, which doesn’t surprise me.
“Oberammergau is nearby and a lot of people opt to stay in Munich.”
Taber’s lead-in for a three-night stay at the two-star-plus Hotel Condor is £300. The German Travel Centre has a Munich Beer Festival package available from £320 for the duration of Oktoberfest – September 16 to October 1.
The city expects over 6m beer lovers from around the world this year. There are 14 separate beer tents, two of which are open until 1am.
Festival-goers are expected to work their way through 5m litres of lager and over 175,000 sausages.
Oktoberfest leads into the Christmas market season, which is lively in Stuttgart and Hamburg as well as Munich. Paul Stanley is convinced that these cities will do well in 2000.
“The Christmas markets in Hamburg and Stuttgart are every bit as impressive as Munich’s and should help continue the upward trend,” he said.
Hamburg’s fortunes in particular will no doubt be helped by prices which have remained static since last year. The lead-in price for two nights at the three-star Furst Brunswick is £255.
sample product
Germany
Factfile
Munich