Feeling Good with Germany’s Environmentally Sustainable Tourism

‘Feel Good’ in Germany with a selection of tips that promote sustainable travel without compromising on the travel experience

Accessible tourism becomes a focal point as measures for travel without barriers are outlined

Dubai, UAE: June 14 2021 – Germany has launched ‘Feel Good’, an all-encompassing set of tips that shine the spotlight on the country’s sustainability offerings, and provide travellers the tools and information to reduce their carbon footprint when exploring what the various regions have to offer.

With Germany preparing for international tourism to kickstart once travel restrictions have been lifted, the ‘Feel Good’ initiative illustrates the various sustainable tourism offerings across the country, while providing guidelines on how to still visit the natural landscapes, urban attractions, and historical sites that Germany is popular for.

A topic of conversation in the region, almost two thirds (65 per cent) of GCC consumers are aware of the various implications currently impacting the environment, with interest in information on transport, hotels, leisure and dining while remaining eco-friendly being high for the region, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group.

Feeling good with environmentally informed travel

As an increased number of travellers are making a conscious effort to contribute to environmental protection, Germany’s ‘Feel Good’ campaign aids visitors in doing so. It reflects the country’s authenticity to deliver a higher quality of life and places an emphasis on well-being.

“Residents across the GCC region have grown fond of both sustainable travel and unique travel options, and while Germany has been offering such products and services for some time, this campaign further supports them to make informed decisions,” Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales and Marketing of the German National Tourist Office commented. “We have implemented ways for everyone to feel good about their travel choices without compromising the quality of the trip.”

‘Feel Good’ highlights diverse choices of transport, hotels, leisure, and dining, that are environmentally conscious, such as the suspended tree tents in Saarland which make guests feel like they are floating across the starry night, fair-trade shopping in Merchant’s Bridge Thuringia, and hybrid boat tours on the Peene, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. By exploring the tips outlined, traveling guilt-free becomes simpler for those who prioritise health, well-being, and the impact of their carbon footprint. The country’s vast natural landscapes offer hikes, bike rides, picnics and other excursions, which are popular activities that also present breath-taking landscapes to enjoy.

Germany's reputation for exceptional sustainability initiatives resulted in it being listed fifth on the worldwide Sustainable Development Report, by the UNWTO 2020 SDG index. Commenting on the achievement, Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the German National Tourist Board noted: “Our awareness of sustainability has increased significantly. The pandemic has now amplified an opportunity for Germany to be at the forefront of sustainable travel. Service suppliers have been providing offers along the entire value chain for many years with great professionalism and are continuously expanding them to meet environmentally friendly standards. With Feel Good, we communicate certified offers on an international level in a targeted manner.”

Accessibility for all when travelling

Part of Germany’s ‘Feel Good’ mantra is ensuring the country is accessible to all. Germany has been positioning itself as a leading destination for accessibility in tourism with public transport, infrastructure, and businesses now required to meet outlined standards to ensure equal ease of use for all locals and travellers.

The ‘barrier-free’ ideology is prevalent in major cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich, where there is a plethora of information and easy to read labelling for those who may require. People of determination can access attractions and events without feeling uncertain of the proper conveniences needed for them.

In addition, accessible tourism can be enjoyed across an array of top outdoor offerings including a guided tour of Haus der Berge – National Park Center Berchtesgaden with a range of audio guides to suit different needs as well as in the town of Oberstdorf in the Allgäu Alps which is well prepared with footpaths designed for wheelchairs and E-bike accessibility.

Full details about the campaign and the country’s offering can be found here: https://www.germany.travel/en/ms/feel-good/sustainability.html

Keep up-to-date with the latest information on German Tourism by visiting www.germany.travel.

ENDS

About the GNTB

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is Germany’s national tourism organisation. It works on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) to represent Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry in accordance with a decision taken by the German Bundestag. Working closely with the German travel industry and private-sector partners and trade associations, the GNTB develops strategies and marketing campaigns to promote Germany’s positive image abroad as a tourist destination and to encourage tourists to visit the country. The GNTB has 27 foreign agencies that cover more than 40 markets around the world. Its head office in Frankfurt, Germany, is home to strategic departments such as Business Intelligence, Business Development and Brand Communications for Destination Germany.

Focus on digitalisation and sustainability

The GNTB promotes forward-looking and sustainable tourism in line with the objectives of the German government. The focus here is on digitalisation and sustainability. The GNTB is a pioneer when it comes to using immersive technologies (virtual, augmented and mixed reality), voice assistants and other conversational interfaces, and artificial intelligence applications such as chatbots. To ensure that tourism offerings are visible on AI-based marketing platforms, the GNTB coordinates the German tourism industry’s open-data project, which aims to develop a tourism knowledge graph.

Sustainability has been a core overarching topic for more than a decade and we engage with it as a strategic issue across all areas of the organisation. Our organisation follows a three-pillar strategy that combines the sharing of knowledge with external partners and a supporting communications strategy with our internal sustainability initiative. The GNTB promotes responsible tourism, a key growth area, by showcasing Germany as a sustainable and inclusive destination in the international travel market. This is particularly important as the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the global shift in travellers' values towards greater social and environmental responsibility.

Further information can be found in our online press center at www.germany.travel/presse. To download press pictures, please register via: https://dam.germany.travel

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For further information, please contact:

Emma Patterson / Saakshi Gupta

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