GERMANY 2021
TOURISM
CRISTIAN SALLAI, DIRECTOR OF THE GERMAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD’S BELGRADE OFFICE, REGIONAL OFFICE OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BULGARIA, CROATIA, MONTENEGRO, ROMANIA AND SERBIA
THE DANUBE CONNECTS SERBIA AND GERMANY The Belgrade office of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its operations next year. Having advanced from 1.4 million trips in 2010 to 3.2 million in 2019, this region has seen above-average growth compared to Germany’s other source markets
ligence applications like chatbots, as our marketing tools.
G
ermany is full of hidden gems and treasures that can be found once you agree to stray from the beaten track. This was one of the elements that determined this year’s main topic: German Local Culture - showing the world a different side of Germany
Are the citizens of the six markets of the region that you cover acquainted with the offers of German tourism? They certainly are! The German National Tourist Office in Belgrade is promoting Germany as a travel destination on six Balkan Markets: Serbia, 42
The GNTB is promoting German Local Culture with a focus on the road less travelled, beyond the standard checklist of tourist hotspots Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro and Romania. Our Belgrade Office promotes the diversity of Germany’s tourist products and we strive to be a pioneer when it comes to using immersive technologies (virtual, augmented and mixed reality), voice assistants and other conversational interfaces, as well as artificial intel-
Germany has been among the world’s most visited tourist destinations for decades. What deserves the credit for this fact? With its 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Germany is among the countries with the highest density of natural and cultural treasures. The international recognition of Germany as the number 1 cultural travel destination in Europe also gains further impetus during this year, from the latest decisions of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The Mathildenhöhe artists’ colony in Darmstadt is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the health resorts of BadenBaden, Bad Ems and 2 Bad Kissingen, along with eight other locations, have also been awarded the World Heritage title of “Major Spa Cities in Europe.” We think that the diversity of the offer – from major cities to small villages, natural sites to spa and luxury travel – is the key to our success. Which are the most popular German cities that have attracted the most tourists for years? Are trends changing? It is really hard to single out one or two particular cities. There is basically something for everyone in Germany’s diverse selection of over 10,000 towns and cities. There are countless different sides to Germany and German cities. The vast spectrum of different architectural
