Germany

Qatar Airways has announced plans to expand flights to Germany with the introduction of scheduled services to Stuttgart and greater capacity to Munich next year.

Stuttgart, to be served three-times-a-week, will be the Doha-based carrier’s fourth destination in Germany. Known as the “cradle of the automobile industry”, flights to Germany’s sixth largest city will begin on 9 March 2011. At the same time, Qatar Airways will increase frequency on the Doha – Munich route from daily flights to 11 services a week using Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft.

The news comes as Qatar Airways prepares to embark on a huge European expansion drive with the launch of flights to Nice, Budapest, Bucharest and Brussels over a 10 week-period from November 2010 to January 2011.

Qatar Airways’ new flights to Stuttgart and additional services to Munich will see the airline operate 31- flights-a-week non-stop from Doha to four destinations across Germany. The carrier already serves Berlin daily and Frankfurt with 10-flights-a-week.By March next year, Qatar Airways will operate 182 flights a week to cities across Europe, one of the carrier’s key global markets.

The Airbus A319 single-aisle aircraft designated to operate the new Stuttgart route features a capacity of 110 seats – eight in Business Class and 102 in Economy. The aircraft is equipped with the state-of-the-art Oryx Entertainment system offering individual TV touch screens in each seat and over 700 audio video entertainment options.

The aircraft also features OnAir mobile telecommunication technology allowing passengers to send and receive SMS and MMS messages, as well as browse the web using their internet-enabled mobile device.

Located in southwest Germany, Stuttgart has a population of around 600,000 people with a metropolitan area of over five million inhabitants. The city is home to automobile car giants Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. Porsche is the majority shareholder of Volkswagen AG, the parent company of Volkswagen Group which owns luxury car brands Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the German expansion was long-awaited and represented the airline’s commitment to one of Europe’s biggest and strategically important markets.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the German authorities for providing Qatar Airways with greater access to Germany which has been a largely underserved market from the Gulf,” said Al Baker.

“Munich was our first route in Germany launched in 1998 and since then we have come a long way in the German market with more routes and more frequencies to give our passengers the choice they deserve.

“Securing Stuttgart and stepping up frequency to Munich, one of our most popular German routes, is a great boon for the airline.

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Germany has relaxed its travel advisory to Sri Lanka from October 2010 following the improvement in the security situation in the country.

German Ambassador Jens Plotner told the media that Germany has relaxed the travel advisory after the war and it will be further relaxed from this month onwards.

The number of tourists to Sri Lanka is increasing rapidly and the country has become a popular destination due to its tropical charm and value for money. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has set an ambitious goal to attract over 2.5 million tourists by 2016.

According to Ambassador Plotner, the only area which Germany has not yet recommended its tourists to travel is the extreme North as foreigners are still not permitted to travel to Jaffna without ministry permission due to landmine clearing operations. “I hope this will be dropped in the near future. Once the state of emergency is completely lifted there will be a situation where there would be no specific travel advisory at all”, he said. Plotner further mentioned that Sri Lanka was popular as a destination and the country has the potential to develop as one of the best eco-friendly tourist destinations in Asia, and also the best country for Ayurveda treatment.

“Many German tourists visit Sri Lanka for Ayurveda treatment. This is another sector where Sri Lanka has a distinct advantage to popularise the country among tourists. This sector needs to be developed more”, he said.

The German Government has pledged nearly US$ 15 million for the country’s development activities, including the de-mining and poverty alleviation programs in the North and the East.

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Germany has further relaxed travel restrictions imposed on German nationals visiting Sri Lanka. This follows the rapid improvement in the security situation in Sri Lanka with the collapse of the LTTE.

The German Embassy said a long standing travel advisory had been eased enabling German tourists to visit Yala National Park and even Arugam Bay and the eastern regions. The Defence Ministry in Sri Lanka welcomed the move while urging other countries to review existing travel restrictions on foreigners imposed years ago during the height of Tamil Tiger atrocities.

“Sri Lanka’s tourism has great potential” says new German Ambassador to Colombo Jens Uwe Plotner. He further said that “Sri Lanka is a small universe with great potential”. “The wide diversity in tourism ranges from cultural sites, sunny beaches, tea plantations to wild life and safaris. Sri Lanka has attracted German tourists to the island for over three decades”.

He was not surprised to find that the most number of tourists to visit Sri Lanka for several years had come from Germany. He said “Now is the time for Sri Lanka to exploit its vast tourism potential by assuring stable and reliable investment-conditions, investing in transport-infrastructure and upgrading existing hotels on the island”.

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Evening Dinner Cruise

BOOK THIS TOUR – CLICK HERE!

Duration: 3 hours (aprox)

Location: Cologne, Germany

From GBP £34.70

Highlights

• Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
• Dinner included

• Romantic experience, perfect for couples

A night of festivity and romance awaits you onboard the comfortable MS Stolzenfels! Round off your day at Cologne’s famous Christmas Market with a romantic cruise on the River Rhine by candlelight. Relax to the sounds of onboard live music while you feast on a traditional hearty three course festive dinner.

Cruise against the beautiful backdrop of Cologne’s winter city skyline as you slowly meander along the river. Experience the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine with its fairytale castles and view the magnificent scenery in the tranquility of evening.

A lovely indulgence in one of Germany’s prettiest cities.

Book Cologne Rhine River Advent Evening Dinner Cruise on MS Stolzenfels

Afternoon Cruise

Cologne Rhine River Advent Afternoon Cruise on MS Stolzenfels

Duration: 2 hours (aprox)

Location: Cologne, Germany

From GBP £18.97

Highlights

• Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
• Free snacks included
• Conducted in English

An afternoon cruise on the Rhine whilst enjoying relaxing live music, coffee and hot waffles is sure to make you smile, before or after you stroll around the renowned Cologne Christmas Markets.

Enjoy the wintry panorama of Cologne’s Old Town on board our comfortable saloon vessel MS Stolzenfels. The elegant interior design and superior furnishings add to the warm atmosphere on board this exclusive ship. Even Santa Claus makes an appearance (Friday, Saturday and Sunday cruises only) to add to the festive ambiance on board.

Romanticism is the key in advent, and what better way to indulge in it than with the same atmosphere onboard. Experience the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine with its stunning landscape and fairytale castles and capture the true essence of Christmas in style.

Book Cologne Rhine River Advent Afternoon Cruise on MS Stolzenfels

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Cologne
Germany
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BOOK THIS TOUR – CLICK HERE!

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

Location: Frankfurt, Germany

From GBP £383.73

Highlights

• Multi-Day Trip
• Seasonal Offer
• Informative, friendly and professional guide, conducted in English

Experience Christmas festivities in the heart of Germany on this multi-day tour from Frankfurt. Engage your senses and observe regional towns celebrating the silly season joyfully.

Marvel at the giant Christmas tree with its thousands of lights, in the heart of Leipzig before doing your last-minute Christmas shopping at numerous Christmas Markets throughout the region.

Handicraft enthusiasts will be thrilled with a visit to one of Germany’s oldest porcelain manufacturers where a demonstration on painting and glazing is given in the exhibition hall. You’ll also venture to two miner-villages to view the German tradition of woodcarving Christmas pyramids and filling them with candles.

Keeping with the season, you’ll sample traditional German snacks including Bratwurst and mulled wine before tasting Strietzel (local cake) in Dresen.

This guided multi-day tour is a comfortable way of getting familiar with the most interesting sights, the most beautiful landscapes and the tradition of Germany. The experienced staff, from your coach driver to the tour guide are committed to providing the best services, making your vacation interesting, smooth and comfortable. Transportation will be in a modern coach or a  minivan with air-conditioning. Please read the itinerary below for full details.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Frankfurt – Erfurt – Leipzig (D)

Depart from Frankfurt in the morning and drive eastward to Eisenach. The Wartburg Castle is unmissable. A national treasure of Germany, you’ll see the room where Luther used to live for many years, the last of which, in seclusion.
Continue via Weimar to Leipzig, where, after checking in to your hotel you’ll visit one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets. The main attractions are located on the historical market square in front of the ancient town hall. Marvel at the 25 yard Christmas tree with its thousands of lights or stroll through the many stalls with handcrafted Christmas gifts from the region. Choose to enjoy a very informal German style snack with Bratwurst and mulled wine at one of the numerous food stalls.

Overnight: Hotel Mercure or similar

Day 2: Leipzig – Meissen – Dresden (B)

In the morning you’ll continue towards  Meissen, where we visit one of Germany’s oldest porcelain factories. Founded in the 18th century and currently still in operation you’ll find these delicate, handcrafted products all around the world. Meissen is proud to be able to restore or re-manufacture on demand all ever produced designs, as the negative plaster models have been preserved through-out the centuries. See the exhibition hall and the demonstration workshops where all steps of the painting and glazing process is explained.
Continue via the major sites of Zwinger, Frauenkirche and the Semper Opera House, and check into your hotel at Dresden. In the evening, visit the Christmas market named ‘Striezelmarkt’ after the local cake specialty, the ‘Christstollen’ or ‘Striezel’. Marvel at the Christmas pyramid and stalls to sample the ‘Strietzel’.

Overnight: Steigenberger Parkhotel or similar

Day 3: Dresden – Annaberg – Scheenberg – Plauen (B, D)

After breakfast this morning you’ll head along country roads to visit two ancient miner-villages: Schneeberg and Annaberg. These villages are typical for the Erzgebirge (ore-mountains) and home to the German tradition of woodcarving and Christmas-pyramids. In older times, light ? represented by candles – was an important symbol of life and safety for the miners, working in the dark tunnels to retrieve the ore and coal. The woodcarvers combined their deep religious beliefs and used candles to illuminate the pyramids with saints and symbols from the holy night including ox, mule and shepherds. In Schneeberg, view St. Wolfgang-church with its altar from 1539, carved by Lucas Cranach. In the afternoon you’ll continue towards Plauen, a city famous for its handcrafted lace. Plauen was founded in the 11th century and since the 16 hundreds remains an important place for cotton manufacturing. A farewell-Dinner will be served in your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Alexandra or similar

Day 4: Plauen – Bamberg – Frankfurt (B)

On the last day of the tour you’ll travel through the Franconian forest to the imperial city of Bamberg. Founded in the 9th century its well preserved old town has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. Walk through the old town and see the cathedral and St. Benedicts abbey Michaelsberg. The last impressions of German Christmas markets can be seen at the pedestrian zone around the cathedral where you can do some last-minute shopping. Finally, you’ll travel through the rolling hills of Franconia, arriving in Frankfurt by late afternoon.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our tour supplier, Viator select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

Book Four Day Christmas Delight

COMPARE PRICES, READ REVIEWS AND BOOK HOTELS IN
Frankfurt / Dresden
/ Leipzig
THINGS TO DO IN
Germany

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Now more commonly known as the Pisa Forum – the ‘think tank’ of the annual tourism calendar – this two-day annual event was this year held on 6-7 November in San Giuliano Terme, near Pisa, Italy. As usual, the Forum was organised in co¬operation with the European Travel Commission (ETC), attracting more than 60 participants from around the world.

All authorities on world tourism, the participants comprised heads of marketing and research of international tourism bodies such as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), as well as national tourism organisations from Europe, the Americas and Asia, regional tourism associations, international research institutes and private companies from travel and tourism and related sectors.

Representatives of the private sector included the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), the Philadelphia-based economic forecasters Tourism Economics, HIS Global Insight Boston, Synovate Censydiam, the Department of Travel & Tourism Management at the Worms University of Applied Sciences, the Japan Travel Bureau (JTB) Foundation, the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation, and ADV, the German Airports Association.

The participants, who came from around 30 countries, represented all regions of Europe, plus North and South America, and Northeast and Southeast Asia – as always, a multi-national, multi-disciplinary group of experts, who have given the Pisa Forum a growing reputation as the annual ‘think tank’ of the global tourism industry.

This summary report, commissioned by ITB Berlin, can only provide a brief overview of the wealth of information on travel and tourism demand exchanged by the participants in Pisa, but it highlights the main conclusions of more than two days of intensive discussion and debate.

ITB Berlin is delighted to be closely associated with the Pisa Forum for the fourth consecutive year and, in co-operation with IPK International, we will be looking more closely at the development of travel and tourism demand over the next few months, in the run-up to ITB Berlin in March 2009.