Germany expects to attract 8-10 percent more Indian tourists this year

Germany expects to attract 8-10 percent more Indian tourist this year, up from 615,617 tourists in 2013.

"More than 615,000 overnights from India in 2013 alone show: Germany is trendy and a top destination for high end business and leisure," German Ambassador Michael Steiner said.

"Germany stands not only for excellent cars and high tech, but for much more: Vibrant, reunified Berlin, modern design and world heritage with magnificent monuments that have stood the test of time - just take the castles in Potsdam or the Cologne Cathedral."

To make travel more convinenet from India, the German embassy recently opened five more visa application centres. A sixth centre is expected to be opened shortly at Kolkata.

According to an official with German National Tourist Office (GNTO), last year Indian tourists arrival in Germany grew by five percent to 615,617.

"Tourist arrivals were partly affected due to the currency fluctuations. This year we are expecting a robust growth of about 8-10 percent in tourist arrivals from India," Romit Theophilus, director, marketing and sales office India for GNTO told IANS.

"India is one of the main countries where we are focusing to attract more tourists from especially because of its growth rate, young population and a growing middle class. These reasons will make India one the largest outbound tourist markets in the world."

GNTO also announced its new campaign theme for 2014 - 'Germany - UNESCO World Heritage destination'.

"We will be promoting more of theme based tourist packages like snow white and hansel and gretel. Germany has 38 UNESCO World Heritage sites making it top three UNESCO World Heritage sites location in Europe," Theophilus said.

He added that GNTO will be investing around 500,000 euros in Indiafor promoting Germany as a tourist hotspot.