Germany gets in the mood for Christmas

Northern europe by Matt Bond

Germany gets in the mood for Christmas

Germany

Travellers to Germany next year are being encouraged to discover 1,000 years of history through Romanesque Year 2001, a new marketing theme to be promoted by the German National Tourist Office.

Efforts by the GNTO to promote Christmas markets as short breaks in the UK have led to a 25% increase in the number of UK overnight stays in December during the past three years. Figures have risen from 187,000 overnights in 1996 to 233,000 last year.

It will also be unveiling its new brochure devoted to the country’s traditional Christmas markets.

It highlights the dates of the popular markets and lists tour operators offering packages.

Attractions: the Netherlands is hoping exposure at WTM will increase its visitor numbers

France

France has fewer exhibitors this year – 144 compared to last year’s 150 – but with eight new trade representatives Maison de la France is still preparing for a bumper show.

First-time exhibitors include Never Tourist Office in Burgundy, Hôtels de Paris, Paris Chic and the Nord Departmental Tourist Authority.

Also exhibiting for the first time since 1995 is the Dijon Tourist Office.

Netherlands

The Netherlands Board of Tourism will use the event to launch the Netherland’s Fifth Floriade in 2002 which is expected to attract over three million extra visitors.

Representatives will be on hand to talk about the pros and cons of hosting the Euro 2000 football tournament and the headway made in the UK following the tourism board’s initiative to focus on Rotterdam, Maastricht and the Hague.

Belgium

Tourism Flanders – Brussels has five new participants on the stand it shares with Tourism Brussels and Ardennes, bringing the country’s total number of exhibitors to 41.

Tourism Flanders – Brussels will also use the show as a platform to launch Fashion 2001 Landed/Gelant which is taking place between May and October next year.

Time Out

&#42 Belgian bites: Tourism Brussels and Ardennes will promote its main theme for 2001 – Festival of Flavours – which will highlight the gastronomy of the region. Visitors will be asked to sample Belgian beers and chocolates, and be given the chance to try cheeses, hams and other authentic Ardennes food.