Germany bolsters sustainable tourism offerings

German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has been promoting sustainable tourism offerings, encouraging eco-conscious travel, strengthening intercultural understanding, supporting regional businesses and conserving natural resources.

According to an analysis by IPK International, around 80 per cent of international travelers are conscious about sustainability, climate and environmental protection and around 40 per cent seek cost-effective offers specially when it comes to their stays.

In addition, a strong 90 per cent of those surveyed also have a strong desire to combine a city trip with a stay in a rural region; they extend the length of their stay that contributes towards reducing the CO₂ footprint.

“As a tourist board, we continuously share the latest data with service providers, from customer groups to be addressed, to trends in the choice of transport; these are crucial fundamentals for travel providers,” said Petra Hedorfer, CEO, German National Tourist Board (GNTB).  

“The continuous exchange of best practices is also extremely important in a transformation, so that travel providers can make faster progress together – we, as a Tourist Board, act as a networking and knowledge platform to accelerate these eco-conscious transformations.”

“We welcome travelers to experience Germany and explore its wide range of attractions that are not only exciting but are also environmentally friendly. We thrive in the narrative ‘Germany Simply Inspiring’, which was launched in 2017 and aims to promote the country’s positive image among a global audience,” said Yamina Sofo, Director at the Dubai-based German National Tourist Office (GNTO).

GCC travelers can enjoy Germany’s plethora of sustainable offerings, including affordable public transport options, green architecture, and sprawling parks. ‘Feel Good’, one of the campaigns launched in 2022, focuses heavily on sustainable tourism and promotes myclimate.org, a CO2 calculator that tracks carbon emissions linked to travelling and acts as a platform for offsetting emissions by taking calculated donations to social causes. The compensatory initiative was created to help positively shape the future, and help travelers offset their carbon footprint.

This year, the GNTB will run three theme-specific campaigns that will continue to focus on sustainable tourism: ‘Feel Good’, ‘Embrace German Nature’, and a new cultural campaign focusing on the ‘51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Historic Modern Germany’ which aims to highlight Germany’s rich culture and heritage.