Destination Germany Shines In Toronto
“I’m very enthusiastic about the industry. Our flight volume is almost back to where it was in 2019. The hotel rooms in Germany are filled and the air in Germany is full of hope, gratitude and joy,” Anja Brokjans, Director Canada of the German National Tourist Office, shared during an event in Toronto yesterday showcasing the diversity of the European nation.
In 2019, Canadians accounted for a record 730,000 overnight stays in Germany and the market has recovered at 87.2%, “which is pretty amazing.”
Notably, connectivity to the destination is strong with Lufthansa Group and Air Canada offering up to 96 weekly flights to Frankfurt and Munich from Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.
Condor offers 18 nonstop seasonal flights per week from Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, Edmonton, Whitehorse (May – Oct.) and will add Calgary to Frankfurt in 2024. Meanwhile, Toronto-Frankfurt is year-round. In summer 2024, Condor will operate from five Canadian cities to Frankfurt: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Halifax. Flights are timed for inbound connections on WestJet and onward connections in Frankfurt.
By next spring, Condor’s long-haul fleet, including all flights from Canada, will be on the A330neo aircraft, featuring four Prime Seats, 26 seats in Business Class, 64 seats in Premium Economy Class and 216 seats in Economy Class.
“Germany is not just a high season destination for Canadians but a year-round destination,” she shared, adding that Germany now has 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The new addition is Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia, which boasts a Jewish-medieval heritage with three important monuments – the Old Synagogue, the Mikveh, and the Stone House.
Responsible and sustainable travel remains a key focus for the GNTB and Brokjans said that is also a priority for Canadians.
“According to a study, 48.2 % are willing to pay more for eco friendly products and 47.3% think helping the environment is important to them,” she said.
The Canadian stop of the Destination Germany road show, which is off to Boston today, featured a delegation of 10 partners on location from Germany for lunch and evening events for media and travel industry personnel. For more on what these destinations ranging from Bavaria and Berlin to Munich and Stuttgart offer, check out the Oct. 12 edition of Travel Courier.
