Business-leisure combos help fuel Kiwi interest in Germany says
Germany is seeing a strong resurgence of travellers from New Zealand, particularly from business travellers extending their stays, according to a tour operator visiting the country this
week.
Michael Kater, of Compass Tours was one of 26 exhibitors at the Destination Marketing Services (DMS) Connect event in SO/ Auckland yesterday and says his company is seeing ‘new levels’ of business from this market.
‘The positive news is that Germany’s inflation is heading down and agents and planners budgeting for groups can just expect normal increases again.’
Kater says New Zealand business travellers are back visiting factories, clients and business partners as well as attending trade fairs that Germany is famous for.
‘Because it is such a long distance, these people don’t tend to fly in and fly out so they are staying on.’
He says this means travel planners are increasingly looking for good partners on the ground to handle accommodation, connections, itineraries and other logistics.
Kater advises the trade to watch out for the ETIA – Europe’s digital arrival visa.
‘This is not active yet but we would expect to see it by the end of 2025 and it’s something planners need to be aware of.’
He also has a tip for agents sending clients to Munich.
‘Everyone knows the Oktoberfest but that can be expensive with high accommodation rates. So I recommend the spring festival – sort of a small Oktoberfest with a local feel and still a lot
of fun.’
Fellow exhibitor Susana Silva, of Osiris in Portugal says although the New Zealand market is steady and there is potential for considerably more growth for her part of the world.
‘There seems to be increasing interest in leisure travel to Portugal. We’ve had agents (at DMS Connect) ask about river and ocean cruises and day trips in Porto and Lisbon.
‘Others want to know more about Lisbon and Porto combinations with four days in one city and three in the other as part of a full European itinerary.’