Steffi Gretschel, Leipzig Tourism & Marketing; Christoph Munch, Dresden Marketing & the GNTO's Antje Splettstoesser
GNTO's Carina Schumacher & Antje Splettstoesser
Romantic Roads Tourist Association's Jurgen Wunschenmeyer is surrounded by Susan Rienitz, Bremerhaven Tourist Board & Susan Krulic, Bavaria Tourism
This year, Germans have cause for making merry as it marks several major milestones.
To announce the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, the German National Tourist Office’s Carina Schumacher started her presentation with a photo of the (in)famous painting on the east Berlin wall of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev kissing his East German counterpart Erich Honecker. As part of the celebrations on November 9th, the Lichtgrenze Project will feature 15 km. of illuminated balloons along the original wall’s site. The balloons (will be released) representing “a symbol of hope for a world without walls”.
The GNTO’s Antje Splettstoesser, Director – Marketing & Sales welcomed a contingent of representatives for Bavaria, Bremerhaven, Dresden, Leipzig, the Romantic Road and “Routes to Luther” via Erfurt to the Pan Pacific Vancouver. Erfurt is gearing up for celebrations in 2017 commemorating 500 years of the Reformation. Events leading up to it include historical festivals, exhibitions and concerts.
Recently, Germany received another UNESCO listing, making it 39 in total. The Imperial Abbey of Corvey (circa 822 AD), was built by French Benedictine monks and boasts a rare library of 74,000 handwritten books from before the advent of the printing press.
This was both Splettstoesser and Schumacher’s 1st visit to meet the trade in Vancouver. They say that the GNTO’s focus for 2015 will be on traditions and customs comprising culinary, living traditions as well as arts and crafts. The campaign will showcase Germany as a modern destination with links to living, authentic traditions in the country. Plus, it will promote tourism to the rural parts of Germany.
Back to our hosts, here are some tidbits gleaned from their presentations:
Bavaria: Famous for its beers; 1st time visitors must sample the smoked beer.
Bremerhaven: The German Emigration Centre traces how Europeans emigrated to the North America via Bremerhaven.
Dresden: This year, it is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Richard Strauss.
Erfurt: For your clients, the tourist board can arrange English language church services or private recitals in historic venues.
Leipzig: Touts itself as a hipster city. Check out hidden-leipzig.com for off the beaten track trip ideas.
Romantic Road: Travelling via the Romantic Road Coach is said to be the best way to see the area.
This was the only Canadian stop for the DMOs who will head off to the West Coast of the U.S. for the balance of their tour.
