Federal Government Report On Tourism Policy

Federal Government Report
on Tourism Policy
- 17th legislative term -
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Table of Contents
Part 1 Opportunities and challenges for tourism policy
1.1 Tourism successful midmarket growth sector
1.2 Tourism: an important factor for the economy
1.3 Framework conditions for the tourism industry
Shaping demographic change
Targeted support for SMEs active in the tourism industry
Social responsibility in the tourism industry
Sustainable tourism
International framework conditions
Part 2 Tourism policy at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

2.1 Improving competitiveness, boosting performance priority projects for
the tourism industry
2.2 Training and education in the tourism industry
2.3 Regional and structural policy for the tourism industry
2.4 Germany as a travel destination the German National Tourist Board (DZT)
Part 3 Collaboration at the European and international level in tourism policy
3.1 European tourism policy
3.2 Bilateral collaboration
3.3 Collaboration on tourism policy within the framework of the OECD
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
3.4 Collaboration on tourism policy within the framework of the UNWTO
(World Tourism Organisation)
Part 4 The role of other federal ministries in tourism policy
Federal Foreign Office (Auswrtiges Amt (AA))
Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the Federal Ministry of Food,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV)
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Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ)
Federal Ministry of Health (BMG)
Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ)
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
(BMU)
Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS)
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Part 5 Key players and organisation of tourism policy in Germany
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Part 1 Opportunities and challenges for tourism policy
1.1 Tourism successful midmarket growth sector
Tourism is one of Germany's booming and lucrative economic sectors. At the same
time, the industry promotes a positive and friendly image of the country. Tourist services
increase the appeal and popularity of cities and regions and thereby strengthen Germany's position as a place for business and investment overall. Tourism is a multifaceted
industry, encompassing tour operators and travel agencies, hotels and restaurants in
urban and rural areas, trade fairs, convention and event centres, museums, theatres
and other cultural facilities, camping sites, car, boat and bike rental, sporting facilities,
preventive health and rehabilitation clinics, nature reserves and leisure parks, bus, rail
and air transport companies, and some of the retail sector - all of which offer attractive
services to both private holiday-makers and the business traveller. Tourism also offers
work and training opportunities that are tied to a specific location.
In Germany, tourism is an economic heavyweight and a driver of job growth, with 2.9
million workers directly employed in the industry. The sector generates a gross value
add (GVA) of close to 100 billion, thereby accounting for 4.4 percent of the total GVA
of the German national economy, while tourism spending in Germany amounts to
roughly 280 billion - impressive figures for an industry whose economic importance
had long been underestimated. The Federal Government's Annual Economic Report
highlights the fact that Germany tops the league in terms of growth in Europe, and the
tourism industry certainly made a substantial contribution to this economic success.
The Federal Government has significantly improved the conditions for growth and
employment and will continue this policy in the future. Credit for the good economic
results must be given above all to the many small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) in the country. For this reason, the promotion of a competitive midmarket is at
the heart of the Federal Government's economic policy. The aim of the Federal Government's SME policy is to create a business framework that allows small and mediumsized enterprises to strengthen their competitive position and fully develop their potential for growth and employment.
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As a horizontal sector, tourism cuts across many areas of government policy. And given
that tourism is primarily the domain of SMEs - aside from the few big names in the
industry - it particularly benefits from the SME policy of the Federal Government.
Current priority areas of the Federal Government's SME policy include:
The Federal Government's Skilled Labour Strategy adopted in 2011: a twopronged approach to secure an adequate supply of skilled labour by unlocking
domestic workforce potential and by applying a smart immigration policy to attract skilled workers from abroad.
Securing funding for SMEs by making the arrangements under "Basel III" more
midmarket-friendly. These arrangements concern the capital adequacy of credit
institutions at the EU level.
Reducing bureaucracy to give businesses greater latitude. Since the introduction

of the "Bureaucracy Reduction and Better Regulation" programme in 2006, the
Federal Government has cut a quarter of the costs of bureaucracy borne by
German businesses (for more information on the SME Initiative of the Federal
Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), go to www.bmwi.de).
1.2 Tourism: an important factor for the economy
The role of tourism in the German economy
Comprehensive, up-to-date figures on the economic importance of tourism to the

German national economy have been available since February 2012. Following the
studies conducted by the Institute of Economic Structures Research (GWS mbh) in
2003 and 2005, new and enhanced statistics, known as a "tourism satellite account"
(TSA), were compiled at the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. These TSA data are based on an internationally accepted procedure that is
consistent with German national accounts, and facilitate an informed appraisal of the
impact of the German tourism industry on income and employment.
The results are remarkable:

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Generating 97 billion in 2010, the German tourism industry accounted directly

for a 4.4 percent share of the total GVA of the national economy.
If we also factor in indirect effects, such as intermediate inputs, and induced effects (direct and indirect income which is spent in Germany, thereby generating
further income and employment), with roughly 214 billion tourism accounts for
9.7 percent of the total GVA.
This means that every euro of GVA that is directly provided by tourist spending
generates an additional 1.25 of indirect and induced value added.
Hotels and restaurants make the biggest contribution with 57.1 billion.
The importance of business travel was also gauged: In 2010 business travellers spent
57.2 billion in Germany, with 14.7 billion spent by foreign and 42.5 billion by domestic business travellers. This translates to a good 20 percent of overall tourism spending
in Germany worth 278.3 billion.
Tourism creates and safeguards jobs in Germany. Most of these jobs are linked to a
particular location and are therefore of particular value for the regions. Here too,
impressive figures are available that are testament to this fact:
2.9 million workers are directly employed in the tourism industry in Germany,
which is equivalent to 7 percent of the entire working population.
If indirect and induced effects are also factored in, a total of 12 percent of the
entire working population is directly and indirectly employed in tourism.
This means that every direct job in tourism creates 0.7 additional jobs in upstream and downstream sectors.
All in all it appears that the tourism industry is a powerful motor for job development, is
responsible for strong revenue generation and is therefore an important economic factor
for Germany (study available for download at www.bmwi.de).
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Positive trends in tourism development
2012 was an outstanding year for tourism in Germany. For the third consecutive year
Germany reported record numbers of overnight stays by tourists, passing the 400
million mark for the first time ever with 407.3 million overnight stays that year. This
translates to a growth of 3.6 percent on the previous year. A particular increase was
seen in the number of international visitors, with overnight stays in Germany by nonresident visitors rising 8.1 percent to 68.8 million in 2012.
Figure 1
Development of overnight stays by resident and non-resident guests in commercial accommodation establishments in Germany since 2006:
Source: Federal Statistical Office Wiesbaden

As of 2011 overnight stays in accommodation establishments with 10 or more bedplaces or in camping sites with 10 or more places
Southern Germany is the most popular holiday region in Germany: Bavaria and BadenWrttemberg alone accounted for roughly 131.8 million of the 407.3 million overnight
stays in Germany in 2012 (over 32 percent of all overnight stays).
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Overnight stays in accommodation establishments with 10 or more bed-places or in
camping sites with 10 or more places
Compared with figures for 2011, the city states of Hamburg and Berlin reported the
biggest increase in the number of overnight stays in 2012, a fact which underlines the
positive trend in city-based tourism:
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Increasing importance of non-resident visitors
Of the 407.3 million overnight stays in German accommodation establishments in 2012,

68.8 million were by international visitors. This equates to a percentage share of 16.9
percent. With 52.1 million overnight stays, guests from Europe dominate, accounting for
75.7 percent.
Overnight stays of non-resident visitors in Germany in 2012:
Rank
Continent of origin
In millions
Share in %
1.
Europe
52.09
75.7
2.
Asia
7.24
10.5
3.
America
6.84
9.9
4.
Australia, Oceania
0.81
1.2
5.
Africa
0.62
0.9
No data
1.23
1.8
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Most foreign tourists come from the Netherlands, accounting for roughly 16 percent of
all non-resident overnight stays in 2012.
2010
2011
2012
In millions
Total overnight stays of nonresident visitors in Germany:
60.3
63.7
68.8
Of these, visitors came from:

1.
The Netherlands
10.5
10.7
10.9
2.
Switzerland
4.2
4.8
5.2
3.
USA
4.8
4.7
4.9
4.
United Kingdom
4.2
4.3
4.5
5.
Italy
3.3
3.3
3.5
6.
Austria
2.8
3.0
3.2
7.
France
2.7
2.9
3.1
8.
Belgium
2.6
2.8
2.9

Order of source markets reflects data for 2012
Business travel an important and growing tourism segment in Germany
Germany is also enjoying unprecedented popularity as a destination for business

travellers: In 2012 the number of European business trips to Germany rose to roughly
13 million, which translates to an increase of 12.3 percent on 2011. Germany is the top
destination worldwide for international trade shows, with three of the world's five largest
exhibition centres located in Germany. Germany is also number one in Europe for
conventions and conferences.
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The importance of business-related tourism in Germany is disproportionately high, with

27 percent of all European trips to Germany taking place for business reasons. Every
second euro spent in German hotels comes from business travellers. Business travellers tend to leave more money in the region than leisure travellers, and the knock-on
effects are high (indirect benefits from expenditure on taxis, hotels and in restaurants,
shops etc.). The factors that are key to Germany's success are the good value for
money that business travellers receive, the top-quality conference hotels, convention
centres and event locations, the country's good image, the good security situation of its
cities compared with other countries, and Germany's strong ability to innovate. The
United States, China and Great Britain are the key source markets for business travel to
Germany.
48 percent of overnight visitor spend in the business travel market comes from nonresident visitors:
Resident visitors
(with overnight stay)
Spending
Total
Total overnight
visitors
Non-resident visitors
(with overnight stay)
Private
travellers
Business
travellers
Private
travellers
Business
travellers
66.7 billion
14.6 billion
20.6 billion
13.5 billion
52 %
48 %
(percentage
(percentage
share)
share)
81.3 billion
34.1 billion
70 % (percentage share)
30 % (percentage share)
115.4 billion
= 41 % of overall tourist spending in Germany worth
278.3 billion
Source: German National Tourist Board/Federal Association of the German Tourism

Industry/German Institute for Economic Research econ 2012
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Tourism: a thriving sector worldwide
Inernational tourist arrivals in 2012 in millions

Africa 52.3
Middle East 52.6
America 162.1
Europa 534.8
Asia/ Pacific 232.9
Global growth forecast for 2013: +3% to +4%
Source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, January 2013
Tourism is playing an increasingly important role worldwide in the creation of growth

and employment and in the alleviation of poverty. International tourist arrivals worldwide
exceeded the 1 billion mark for the first time ever in 2012. The number of foreign
tourists has therefore increased forty-fold since 1950. According to estimates of the
World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the number of global tourist arrivals is likely to
increase to 1.8 billion by 2030.
The German tourism industry benefits from this development as Germany's reputation
and popularity as a travel destination have increased significantly both at home and
abroad in recent years.
Approximately 1.035 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded worldwide in

2012 (UNWTO estimates), up 3.8 percent on the previous year. 534.8 million individuals
travelled to Europe alone, accounting for a 51.7 percent share in global tourist arrivals.
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Top 10 destinations by international

tourist arrivals in 2011
81.4
France
62.7
United States
Destination
China
57.6
56.2
Spain
46.1
Italy
34.0
Turkey
29.3
Great Britain
28.4
Germany
24.7
Malaysia
23.4
Mexico
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Arrivals in millions
Germany ranks eighth among the most popular travel destinations
Source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, January 2013;

International tourist arrivals in USA, China, Spain, Italy, Turkey, GB, Malaysia and
Mexico based on border arrivals, in France and Germany arrivals in all accommodation
establishments.
Data are not yet available for all countries for 2012.
With 28.4 million international tourist arrivals, Germany was the eighth most popular
country worldwide in 2011, after France, the United States, China, Spain, Italy, Turkey
and Great Britain. This reflects an increase of 5.6 percent compared to the previous
year.
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Germany ranks sixth in the world for tourism receipts
Tourism industry receipts from international visitors in 2011
United States
83.4
Destination
Spain
43.0
France
39.2
China
34.8
30.9
Italy
27.9
Germany
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Billion euros
Source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, January 2013

Data are not yet available for all countries for 2012
In 2011 non-resident visitors spent 27.9 billion during their stay in Germany, making
Germany sixth in the world for tourism receipts.
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Germany occupies first place within the EU for arrivals in hotels, guesthouses
and B&Bs
Arrivals of residents and non-residents in hotels,

guesthouses and B&Bs within the EU in 2011
Destination
Germany
115.6
France
110.2
Spain
85.4
Italy
83.1
Great Britain
60.6
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Arrivals in millions
Source: EUROSTAT (as at 18 March 2013); arrival of a resident or non-resident registering in a

hotel or similar establishment.
Germany is an extremely popular travel destination. With 115.6 million arrivals of

resident and non-resident visitors to hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, Germany occupied
first place within the EU in 2011.
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Germany occupies third place within the EU for overnight stays in hotels,
guesthouses and B&Bs
Overnight stays of residents and non-residents in hotels,

Guesthouses and B&Bs within the EU in 2011
Spain
286.7
Destination
Italy
259.9
Germany
240.8
France
202.3
Great Britain
150.9
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Overnight stays in millions
Source: EUROSTAT (as at 18 March 2013); an overnight stay of a resident or non-resident is

defined as every night that a visitor spends, or is registered to spend, in a hotel or
similar establishment; whether the visitor actually stays or not is of no concern.
In 2011, Germany ranked third among EU countries for overnight stays by resident and
non-resident visitors in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. With 240.8 million overnight
stays, Germany lagged behind Spain and Italy but was ahead of France and Great
Britain.
1.3 Framework conditions for the tourism industry
Shaping demographic change
Skilled labour for the tourism industry

Demographic change is also altering the labour markets in the tourism industry, with the
result that the increasing shortage of skilled labour has become an extremely important
topic both for the economy overall and for the tourism industry. Even today it is already
difficult to fill positions in some tourism-related jobs, which is why the priority must now
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be to increase the appeal of the tourism industry as a place to work. In this connection
the new occupation requiring formal training - "tourism and travel management (agent
for private and business travel)" - which was introduced in May 2011 is an important
signal for the industry and for young people (see also Part 2.2 - Training and education
in the tourism industry). Furthermore the industry itself has also developed diverse
activities in recent years to improve the working and training conditions and promote a
more positive image of the industry. In addition to the Skilled Labour Strategy of the
Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is currently
examining the specific need for skilled labour in the tourism field (see also Part 2.1 Improving competitiveness, boosting performance priority projects for the tourism
industry). The aim is to identify the exact profile of requirements for workers and
businesses alike so that businesses can safeguard their competitive position by recruiting suitable staff.
Medical tourism: a new market

Medical tourism is still in its fledgling stages but its growth is expected to increase
significantly, a development which is propelled by four particular trends: (i), increasing
health awareness which has become a way of life for many individuals; (ii) the desire of
many to remain fit and healthy in old age; (iii) advances in medical sciences - Germany
occupies a leading position in the field of medical technology; (iv) the change in the
healthcare system: what was previously a seller's market focussed on spas and health
resorts has increasingly evolved into a buyer's market.
The "Innovative Medical Tourism in Germany" project funded by the Federal Ministry of
Economics and Technology (see also Part 2.1 - Improving competitiveness, boosting
performance priority projects for the tourism industry) has demonstrated that specialisation, strict quality standards, and networking and collaboration between the tourism
and healthcare sectors are keys to success in this nascent market. As patients are
ultimately customers, the healthcare industry must become more innovative in terms of
services provided, while the growing medical demands of customers require innovative
tourism-related
offerings
(www.innovativer-gesundheitstourismus.de
and
www.bmwi.de).
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Accessibility
The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that tourism in Germany is accessible to everyone. With a slew of measures in place, the aim is to make tourism services
increasingly accessible so that they can also be used by individuals with restricted
mobility. Senior citizens or families with small children also benefit from accessible
offerings along the entire tourism service chain. Accessibility means respect and
inclusion for all individuals and is therefore part and parcel of a welcoming culture in
Germany. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is currently promoting
quality, transparency and information in the field of inclusion (see also Part 2.1 Improving competitiveness, boosting performance priority projects for the tourism
industry) and is therefore making a key contribution to implementing the UN Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see also www.un.org.disabilities/).
Targeted support for SMEs active in the tourism industry
Concentrated international marketing efforts by the German National Tourist

Board
The midmarket structure of the tourism industry requires a strong partner to concentrate
the promotion of Germany on international markets. The "Deutsche Zentrale fr Tourismus" (DZT) is Germany's National Tourist Board (see also Part 2.4 - Germany as a
travel destination the German National Tourist Board). It develops and communicates
strategies and products to build on the positive image of German travel destinations
abroad and increase incoming tourism to Germany. The marketing and sales activities
are based on a detailed market analysis and market appraisal in the source markets. To
this end, the German National Tourist Board has 6 regional management centres
worldwide with 30 country representatives across five continents. Following an increase
of 0.5 million, federal funding to the German National Tourist Board totalled 28.275
million in 2013. The additional funds will be channelled into the new foreign branch
office in Belgrade for marketing in south eastern Europe, an important emerging market
for incoming tourism to Germany. The German National Tourist Board co-operates
throughout the world with the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad, the Oversees
Trade Exhibition Division of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and
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AUMA,
the
Association
of
the
German
Trade
Fair
Industry
(see
also
www.germany.travel.de).
Professionalising rural areas

City-based tourism is the current driver of growth in the German tourism industry.
Growth is significantly weaker in rural areas with their many small and medium-sized
service providers. Tourism, however, is especially important for jobs and income
particularly in rural areas which are often structurally weak regions. Therefore the
results of the "Tourism Prospects in Rural Areas" project should inject momentum into
the enhancement of the appeal and professionalism of rural areas (see also Part 2.1 Improving competitiveness, boosting performance priority projects for the tourism
industry). In particular there is a need to close the gap in rural areas with regard to
qualification and skills development, quality and innovation management, networking
and marketing. Selected examples of best practices provide specific recommendations
for action (see also www.tourismus-fuers-land.de).
Reduction in VAT for the hotel sector

When the rate of VAT for accommodation services was reduced on 1 January 2010, the
aim was to strengthen the competitiveness of the hotel industry compared with other
European countries and thereby enhance Germany's position as a tourism location. 22
out of 27 EU states apply the lower rate of VAT, including all of Germany's neighbouring
countries with the exception of Denmark. The reduction in the rate of VAT has a positive
impact for visitors, employees and skilled crafts and trades as hotels invest more in
extending or renovating their buildings, hiring workers and trainees, and in skills
development measures for their staff. An analysis by the Ostdeutscher Sparkassenverband of the 2009-2012 seasonal survey conducted by the Association of German
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) reveals a significant and sustained
increase in the propensity to invest in the hospitality sector with the introduction of the
lower rate of VAT. The Federal Government assumes that the Act to Accelerate
Economic Growth (Wachstumsbeschleunigungsgesetz) has contributed substantially to
driving investment in the German hotel industry.
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Creating latitude, heading off additional burdens

Time and again, the tourism industry just like other industries sees itself at the heart
of a conflict of interests that can adversely affect its economic potential and competitive
position. In his coordinating role, Ernst Burgbacher, the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, tries to arrive at or initiate solutions that are compatible with the
tourism industry. In the period under review in this report, special mention must be given
to the following topics:
Hygiene ranking system: The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

came out on top with its rejection of a national hygiene ranking system for restaurants in order to protect businesses from pillory-like action that could threaten
their existence, and to head off an additional bureaucratic burden for businesses.
The public's need for transparency is sufficiently accommodated in the amended
Consumer Information Act (Verbraucherinformationsgesetz) and the new Food
and Feed Code (Lebens- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch).
"Bed tax": Imposing a cultural subsidy known as the "bed tax" on overnight stays
by tourists runs counter to the promotion of a welcoming culture in Germany. Following the ruling of the Federal Administrative Court of July 2012 that permits
bed tax for private overnight stays but not for business stays, both the industry
and the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism questions the instrument
of bed tax all the more, also in light of the bureaucratic burden it imposes for everyone involved.
Low emission zones: Talks are currently underway between the Federal Government and the Lnder centring on the mutual recognition of special exemptions
(once granted) on which the three federal ministries for the economy, transportation and the environment have agreed. The aim is the easier management of different exceptional arrangements in low emission zones for parts of the midmarket and the tourism industry.
Summer holiday period: The Federal Government, the Secretaries of Commerce

of the Lnder and the Federal/Lnder Committee on Tourism are in favour of
largely maximising the use of the 90-day overall period for summer vacations in
the Lnder. Adjusting the holiday times appropriately is advantageous for tourism
as it can help ease peak traffic periods and even the load on tourist regions.
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Increasing social responsibility in the tourism industry
Ethics and human rights in the tourism industry

The Federal Government is firmly committed to sustainable and socially equitable
tourism and fully advocates the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, a frame of reference
for responsible tourism that was adopted by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
in 1999. The Code was signed by the Association of the German Tourism Industry
(BTW) and the German Travel Association (DRV) in 2012. In doing so the German
tourism industry is sending a clear signal for understanding and respect towards our
own workers, people in the host countries and towards global natural and cultural
heritage (see also www.unwto.org).
Preventing the abuse of children

The global tourism boom does have its downside, however. The Federal Government is
taking action within the framework of the Second Action Plan to Protect Children and
Adolescents from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation and with the trilateral campaign
launched in tandem with Switzerland and Austria to raise awareness of child abuse in
the tourism industry. The travel industry and numerous non-governmental organisations
have also agreed an appropriate code of conduct. The aim is to protect children and
adolescents against sexual exploitation in the tourism industry particularly by raising
tourists' awareness of the issue and by holding training courses and seminars to
promote responsible action on the part of workers in the travel sector (see also Part 4 The role of other federal ministries in tourism policy: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs,
Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Federal Ministry of
Justice).
Strengthening sustainable tourism
Highlighting Germany's competitive advantage as a place to experience nature

An unspoilt countryside and environment is one of the most important economic bases
for tourism, and one of the top criteria for many holiday-makers when it comes to
choosing their travel destination as ultimately relaxing in a scenic setting is one of the
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most popular holiday experiences. Thanks to the high standards of Germany's environmental and climate policy, the country has an abundance of sustainable tourism
services on offer. The Federal Government supports this development by promoting
several projects including the sustainable development of the 130 or so national parks,
biosphere reserves and nature parks in the country for tourism purposes, improving the
quality of 'back-to-nature' holiday and recreation activities and how these offerings are
marketed, projects for sustainable mobility, and projects for energy and resource
efficiency through an energy conservation campaign in the hospitality sector. Furthermore the Federal Government also seeks to share good experiences with regard to
sustainable destination management with the main destinations of German tourists
abroad (see also Part 4 - The role of other federal ministries in tourism policy: Federal
Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development).
Bringing the competitive advantage of innovative products such as green meetings to the fore
Business trips, trade exhibitions and the MICE market (meetings, incentives, conventions and events) are a vibrant and innovative part of the tourism industry in Germany.
Many companies from diverse business sectors and the event management industry
have since realised the benefits that sustainable action can have for their image and
their long-term success, and are therefore increasingly opting for "green meetings". The
leading position Germany occupies in numerous areas of environmental technology has
fostered the development of this innovative service. Any companies seeking a sustainable framework for their eco-friendly, climate-friendly and energy-efficient events will find
that
the
leading
service
providers
are
located
in
Germany
(see
also
www.germany.travel/green-meetings).
Helping to shape international framework conditions
Competition and subsidiarity in EU tourism policy

The European Union was given some responsibility for tourism for the first time ever
with the Lisbon Treaty. The Federal Government welcomes framework conditions at the
European level that reflect the economic importance of the tourism industry. Global
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challenges such as climate change, the loss of biodiversity or an ageing society need to
be seen from the European perspective. However in exercising its responsibility for
tourism, the European Commission must always remain within the boundaries of
subsidiary jurisdiction. Tourism policy measures implemented at the European level
must deliver true added value and should not be the source of additional bureaucratic
burdens or even programmes that distort competition. On the other hand, the Federal
Government welcomes European involvement in education and training, accessibility
and the use of modern technologies in tourism, as well as European natural and cultural
heritage (see also Part 3.1 European tourism policy).
Strengthening sustainable tourism development through international organisations

The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology represents Germany on the OECD
Tourism Committee and has been a full member of the UNWTO since 1976. The
UNWTO sees the development of responsible, sustainable tourism that is accessible to
all as a vehicle to attain the millennium development goals (MDGs) to alleviate poverty
and strengthen sustainable development. The heads of state and government of the
G20 nations have also taken the growing international importance of tourism on board.
As part of the T.20 Initiative, the tourism ministers - with the participation of the Federal
Government Commissioner for Tourism, Ernst Burgbacher - negotiated intensely to have
the role of travel and tourism as a vehicle for job creation and global growth explicitly
recognised for the first time in the final declaration of the G20 summit in 2012. Efforts
will therefore be made towards the facilitation of travel (see also Part 3 Collaboration
in tourism policy at the European and international level).
Part 2 Tourism policy at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
2.1
Improving competitiveness, boosting performance priority projects for the
tourism industry
The central goal of the Federal Government's tourism policy is to boost the performance
and competitiveness of the German tourism industry. The following priority areas have
been identified within the framework of project funding:
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Support is provided for individual projects focussed on market analysis, improving the quality of products and the promotion of sales, and in particular specific
marketing assistance for innovative products and projects to boost quality in the
tourism industry. These help to promote the performance of individual businesses and the environmentally sound development of the tourism industry.
Economic and technical studies or other kinds of studies, comparisons among

companies and baseline studies
Further training for professionals and managerial staff from all areas of the tourism industry will also be funded through to 2013.
The Federal Government makes roughly 1.6 million available for project funding each
year.
Collaboration with associations in the tourism industry

The collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and other
federal departments with numerous associations in the tourism industry is extremely
helpful when implementing projects aimed at improving the competitiveness and
innovation of key players in the tourism industry. Given their special expertise and
know-how, the associations can provide important pointers for the practical organisation
of the projects and make a valuable contribution in general to constructive dialogue
between the tourism industry, non-governmental organisations and the Federal Government. Among others, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology has worked
with the following associations and organisations:
Association/organisation
ADAC Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobilclub e.V.
(German Automobile Association)
Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad- Club e.V. (ADFC)
(German Cycling Club)
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Barrierefreie Reiseziele in Deutschland
(Association for Accessible Travel Destinations in
Germany)
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughfen (ADV)
(Associaton of German Airports)
asr Allianz selbstndiger Reiseunternehmen Bun-
Website
www.adac.de
www.adfc.de
www.barrierefreiereiseziele.de
www.adv-net.org
www.asr-berlin.de
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desverband e.V.
(Alliance of Independent Travel Agencies)
Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Senioren-Organisationen
e.V. (BAGSO)
(National Association of Organisations for Senior Citizens)
Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft fr Urlaub auf dem Bauernhof
und Landtourismus in Deutschland e.V.
(National Association for On-Farm Tourism and Rural
Tourism in Germany)
Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfe von Menschen mit
Behinderungen und chronischen Erkrankungen und ihren
Angehrigen (BAG Selbsthilfe)
(National Self-Help Association for People with Disabilities
and Chronic Illnesses and Their Families)
BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V.
(Federal Forum for Travel by Children and Young People)
Bundesverband der Campingwirtschaft in Deutschland
e.V. (BVCD)
(Federal Camping Association of Germany)
Bundesverband der Deutschen Fluggesellschaften e.V.
(BDF)
(Federal Association of German Airlines)
Bundesverband der Deutschen Incoming-Unternehmen
e.V. (BDIU)
(Federal Association of German Incoming Companies)
Bundesverband der Deutschen Tourismuswirtschaft e.V.
(BTW)
(Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry)
Bundesverband der Gstefhrer in Deutschland e.V.
(BVGB)
(German National Tourist Guide Association)
Bundesverband Deutscher Omnibusunternehmer e.V.
(BDO)
(National Association of German Bus Companies)
Bundesverband fr Krper- und Mehrfachbehinderte e.V.
(BVKM)
(National Association for People with Physical and
Multiple Disabilities)
Bundesverband Selbsthilfe Krperbehinderter e.V. (BSK)
(National Self-Help Association for Individuals with a
Physical Disability)
Bundesverband Wassersportwirtschaft e.V.
(National Association of the Water Sports Industry)
Bundesvereinigung Kanu e.V. (BVKanu)
(Federal Canoeing Association)
Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe fr Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung e.V.
(Federal Association for Support for People with Mental
www.bagso.de
www.landsichten.de
www.bag-selbsthilfe.de
www.bundesforum.de
www.bvcd.de
www.bdf.aero
www.bvdiu.org
www.btw.de
www.bvgd.org
www.bdo-online.de
www.bvkm.de
www.bsk-ev.org
www.bvww.org
www.kanutouristik.de
www.lebenshilfe.de
...
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Disabilities)
Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Tourismuswissenschaft e.V.
(German Society of Tourism Research)
Deutsche Zentrale fr Tourismus e.V. (DZT)
(German National Tourist Board)
Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband e.V.
(DBSV)
(German Association for the Blind or Visually Impaired)
Deutscher Gehrlosen-Bund e.V.
(German Society for the Deaf)
Deutscher Heilbderverband e.V. (DHV)
(German Association of Spas and Therapeutic Baths)
Deutscher Hotel- und Gaststttenverband e.V. (DEHOGA)
(German Association of Hotels and Restaurants)
Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag (DIHK)
(Association of German Chambers of Commerce and
Industry)
Deutscher Kanu-Verband e.V. (DKV)
(German Canoeing Society)
Deutscher Landkreistag (DLT)
(German Rural District Association)
Deutscher Motoryachtverband e.V. (DMYV)
(German Motorboat Association)
Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB)
(German Olympic Sports Confederation)
Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V. (DRV)
(German Travel Association)
Deutscher Ruderverband e.V. (DRV)
(German Rowing Society)
Deutscher Schaustellerbund e.V. (DSB)
(German Showman Association)
Deutscher Segler-Verband e.V.
(German Sailing Society)
Deutscher Stdte- und Gemeindebund
(German Association of Towns and Municipalities)
Deutscher Tourismusverband e.V. (DTV)
(German Tourism Association)
Deutscher Wanderverband
(German Hiking Society)
Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (DJH)
(German Youth Hostel Association)
Deutsches Seminar fr Tourismus Berlin (DSFT)
(German Seminar for Tourism, Berlin)
Deutsches Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Institut fr
Fremdenverkehr e.V. an der Universitt Mnchen (dwif)
(German Economic Research Institute for Tourism,
University of Munich)
www.dgt.de
www.germany.travel
www.dbsv.org
www.gehoerlosen-bund.de
www.deutscherheilbaederverband.de
www.dehoga.de
www.dihk.de
www.kanu.de
www.landkreistag.de
www.dmyv.de
www.dosb.de
www.drv.de
www.rudern.de
www.dsbev.de
www.dsv.org
www.dstgb.de
www.deutschertourismusve
rband.de
www.wanderverband.de
www.jugendherberge.de
www.dsft-berlin.de
www.dwif.de
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ECPAT Deutschland e.V. - Arbeitsgemeinschaft zum

Schutz der Kinder gegen sexuelle Ausbeutung
(German Association for the Protection of Children from
Sexual Exploitation)
Europischer Verband der Veranstaltungs-Centren e.V.
(EVVC)
(European Association of Event Centres)
EUROPARC Deutschland e.V.
(Umbrella Association of National Parks in Germany)
Futouris e.V.
(Promoter of Sustainable Tourism)
German Convention Bureau e.V (GCB)
Hotelverband Deutschland e.V. (IHA)
(German Hotel Association)
Kreuzer Yacht Club Deutschland e.V. (KYCD)
(Cruiser Yacht Club of Germany)
Nationale Koordinationsstelle Tourismus fr Alle e.V.
(Natko)
(National Coordination Body for Tourism for All)
RDA Internationaler Bustouristik Verband e.V.
(Association of International Coach Travel)
Reisenetz e.V. Deutscher Fachverband fr Jugendreisen
(German Association for Youth Travel)
Sozialverband VdK Deutschland e. V.
(VdK charitable organisation)
Studienkreis fr Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V.
(Study Group for Tourism and Development)
Terre des hommes Hilfe fr Kinder in Not
(Terre des hommes Help for Children in Need)
TourCert (gemeinntzige Gesellschaft fr Zertifizierung im
Tourismus)
(Non-profit organisation for certification in the tourism
industry)
Tourism Watch Informationsdienst Dritte WeltTourismus
(Information service for tourism in the third world)
transfer e.V.
Travel Industry Club e.V.
UNESCO-Welterbesttten Deutschland e.V.
(UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany)
Verband Deutscher Freizeitparks und Freizeitunternehmen e.V. (VDFU)
(Association of German Leisure Parks and Leisure
Companies)
Verband deutscher Naturparke (VDN)
(Association of German Nature Parks)
Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR)
www.ecpat.de
www.evvc.org
www.europarcdeutschland.de
www.futouris.org
www.gcb.de
www.hotellerie.de
www.kycd.de
www.natko.de
www.rda.de
www.reisenetz.org
www.vdk.de
www.studienkreis.org
www.tdh.de
http://www.tourcert.org
www.tourism-watch.de
www.transfer-ev.de
www.travelindustryclub.de
www.unesco-welterbe.de
www.freizeitparks.de
www.naturparke.de
www.vdr-service.de
...
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(Association of German Travel Management)

Verband Internet Reisevertrieb e.V. (VIR)
(Association of Internet-based Travel Organisations)
Vereinigung Deutscher Yacht-Charterunternehmen e.V.
(VDC) (Association of German Yacht Charter Companies)
Verkehrsclub Deutschland e.V (VCD)
(Transport Club of Germany)
Willy Scharnow- Stiftung fr Touristik
(Willy Scharnow Tourism Foundation)
Wirtschaftsverband Wassersport e.V. (WVW)
(Business Association for Water Sports)
www.v-i-r.de
www.vdc.de
www.vcd.org
www.willyscharnowstiftung.
de
www.wassersportverband.de
Tourism prospects in rural areas
Running from September 2011 through to March 2013 the "Tourism Prospects in Rural
Areas" project is one of the most important tourism policy projects launched by the
Federal Government. With a practical guide and complementary, detailed short reports
the project makes a key contribution to making rural areas more appealing for tourists.
All the experts involved rejected the idea of a single concept that does not give due
consideration to the differences in the rural regions.
City-based tourism has been the primary driver of growth in the German tourism
industry up to now. In contrast, most rural areas lag behind when it comes to growth.
Tourism, however, is especially important for jobs and income particularly in rural areas,
which are often structurally weak regions.
The project saw close collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology and the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection,
and benefited from the vast expertise of the German Travel Association (Deutscher
ReiseVerband) in its capacity as project manager. The project was executed by Project
M, a consulting agency.
Interim results of the project were presented and discussed in October 2012 at four
regional conferences held in Lauenburg, Suhl, Geisingen and Wald/Allgu. The final
project results were presented in the form of a practical guide at the final project
convention which was held on 21 January 2013 as part of the Grne Woche agricultural
...
Page 29
fair in Berlin. Compact and concise, this practical guide details the opportunities,
challenges and prospects for ten overarching action areas:
Sustainable tourism development in rural areas
Product presentation
Networks and alliances
Infrastructure
Branding
Communication and marketing
Organisational structures
Skilled labour
Mobility
Accessibility
The practical guide is available as a hard-copy brochure or can be downloaded online

from the website of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the project
website www.tourismus-fuers-land.de. Ten short reports on the action areas with
additional approaches, practical examples and compact checklists for guidance provide
more detailed information. These are also available for download on the websites
mentioned above.
In October 2012, the project was expanded to include a special study on leisure parks,
markets and local festivals, which is also available for download on the aforementioned
websites.
Parties involved are now considering the best way to organise the transfer of knowledge
to the local business community and policy-makers.
Analysis of the labour market and skilled labour in the tourism industry
With the shortage of skilled labour in the tourism industry becoming increasingly
evident, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is supporting the project,
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"Analysis of the Labour Market and Skilled Labour in the Tourism Industry". Lasting for
two years, the project is set to be completed in May 2014.
The project is being executed by a consortium of four Land institutions, headed by the
Saxony Educational Institute of Industry and Commerce (Bildungswerk der Schsischen
Wirtschaft). Other partners include the Bavarian Research Institute for Vocational
Education and Training (bayrisches Forschungsinstitut Betriebliche Bildung, (f-bb)), the
Saxony-Anhalt Educational Institute of Industry and Commerce (Bildungswerk der
Wirtschaft Sachsen-Anhalt) and the Society for Labour Market and Structural Policy Institute of Business Associations in Schleswig-Holstein (Gesellschaft fr Arbeitsmarktund Strukturpolitik - Institut der Schleswig-Holsteinischen Unternehmensverbnde,
(gefas)).
The primary objectives of the project are to analyse the tourism-related labour market
and the situation as regards skilled labour in the participating Lnder, and to draw
conclusions for both the participating Lnder and the Federal Government. Specific
needs are to be identified and approaches designed for the positive development of the
labour market situation in the tourism industry. The project seeks to identify tourism
trends and requirements placed on key players in the industry and render these transparent. At the same time, it aims to increase staff motivation and skills development and
contribute to enhancing the competitive position of businesses in the tourism industry.
The analysis is conducted on the basis of sectoral, quantitative and qualitative criteria
and focuses on three specific areas, namely qualification level and needs, retention and
motivation elements, and professional and managerial staff development. The project
concentrates on the areas of accommodation and gastronomy, cultural services and
tourist attractions, tourism associations, clubs and organisations.
Development and marketing of accessible offerings and services in Germany
The creation of accessible tourism in Germany has been a priority of the Federal
Government's tourism policy for many years. The basis for this was created as early as
the late 1990s when the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology initiated a basic
...
Page 31
study into tourism for people with a disability in 1996/97 and 1998. Since then accessible tourism as a priority area has been continuously improved upon and refined.
This is achieved by defining the creation of accessibility as a funding criterion for all
business promotion programmes, particularly among SMEs. These programmes are
also open to all businesses active in the tourism industry provided they meet the
eligibility criteria. Here, SMEs are primarily supported through development promotion
loans from the ERP and the KfW, Germany's state-owned development bank. Other
funding is generally granted by the competent authorities of the Lnder.
Furthermore, in their individual budgets various federal ministries lend financial support
to specific projects geared towards the development of accessible tourism. For example, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is funding a project on the
"development and marketing of accessible offerings and services in Germany" between
2011 and 2013. The project is executed by the German Seminar for Tourism (DSFT) in
tandem with the National Coordination Body for Tourism for All (NatKo).
The project is an integral part of the Federal Government's National Action Plan to
implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is widely
accepted and supported by the governments of the Lnder, tourism marketing organisations, tourism industry associations, transport operators and organisations for people
with disabilities. As their representatives are members of the project advisory council
and an extended task force, they are involved in the implementation of the project and
can bring their experience to it.
The project has four modules, some of which are addressed simultaneously:
One aim is to develop a single and transparent labelling system for accessible
services along the entire tourism service chain which gives customers clear
information about the degree of accessibility of tourism facilities and services.
A ranking system is defined for quality requirements and criteria for accessible offerings and services in the tourism industry. This system is primarily
based on the agreements on targets in the hospitality sector and standards
defined by the German Standards Service (DIN). These requirements must
be met before a business can display the accessible services sign.
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The key players along the tourism service chain receive training as regards
the quality requirements and accessibility labelling system so that they can offer appropriate accessible products and services.
Accessible services and offerings are presented on an Internet platform. The

platforms of the German National Tourist Board are used to market accessible services abroad. The platform itself will have an accessible format so that
it can be accessed by everyone.
Innovative medical tourism in Germany

Recommendations for action for the development and implementation
of successful services in the field of medical and health-related tourism
Medical tourism is a modern and growing business segment. The aim of the project
entitled "Innovative Medical Tourism in Germany - Recommendations for Action for the
Development and Implementation of Successful Services in the Field of Medical and
Health-related Tourism" was to identify market trends and develop ideas and innovations. The project identified best practice examples, which businesses are encouraged
to emulate and which enable the broad communication of the recommendations for
action. The German Tourism Association (Deutscher Tourismusverband, DTV) acted as
the project executing organisation.
The portfolio of medical tourism services in Germany was analysed in depth at nine
nationwide conferences with the help of around 500 experts and practitioners and a
high-profile advisory council with members from the political arena and the business
community. The aim is to identify ideas for medical tourism to make Germany a competitive travel destination on the long term and establish medical tourism as a premium
product far outside the country's borders. This is to primarily benefit the SME-based
tourism industry.
A medical tourism convention was held at the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology in April 2011. With over 240 people in attendance, the convention presented action guidelines and seven industry reports with market analyses, checklists and
recommendations for action for hotels, clinics and health centres, for instance, as well
...
Page 33
as for spas and health resorts (see also www.innovativer-gesundheitstourismus.de and

www.bmwi.de).
Research report on the "effects of demographic change on the tourism industry

and conclusions for tourism policy"
In 2009, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology provided funding for the
research report on the "effects of demographic change on the tourism industry and
conclusions for tourism policy". The expert report was drawn up by the Institute for
Tourism and Resort Research in Northern Europe (N.I.T.) in collaboration with dwifConsulting Berlin and TNS Infratest Munich.
The report forecasts a slight increase in the volume of holidays and short trips, a shift in
the market share towards senior citizens and single-child families and greater importance attached to the fields of culture, natural environments and health. According to
the report, the importance of senior citizens in the tourism industry will grow at a faster
pace than senior citizens' actual share in the population. Furthermore, the institutes
expect a moderate decline in trips within Germany and more trips abroad as future
senior citizens are expected to continue their previous travel patterns even in old age
provided they have the health to do so. Therefore future senior citizens will be better
travelled and more exacting than previous generations and so the tourism industry must
make special efforts in attracting this customer group.
Baseline study into cycle tourism in Germany
A research report sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology in

2009 revealed the importance and potential of cycle tourism in Germany, a sector that
reports gross earnings of around 9.2 billion and some 186,000 employees. Cycle
tourism generates roughly 22 million overnight stays every year and spending of around
65 per cycle tourist per day. Each year German bicyclists take around 153 million day
trips that do not involve an overnight stay. Direct spend from cycle tourists benefits the
hospitality sector (62.7%), retail (24.9%) and other services (12.4%). The study gave
...
Page 34
rise to projects in the federal Lnder and provided key impetus for the joint FederalLnder project, "Development and Marketing of the D3/R1 Bicycle Route across
Federal Lnder".
Development and marketing of the D3/R1 bicycle route across federal Lnder
The "D3 long-distance bicycle route" pilot project is jointly initiated and funded by the
Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, the Federal Ministry of
Economics and Technology and the federal Lnder of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower
Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Berlin. This pilot project successfully tested
the coordination, planning and marketing of the R1 European bicycle route as a model
route for the D3 route running from the Dutch to the Polish border.
As part of this project the German Tourism Association (DTV) modernised, newly
signposted and professionally marketed the 960-kilometre route. This resulted in the
route being awarded a three-star certification by the German Cycling Club (ADFC),
which increased the route's publicity, number of tourists and overnight stays. The
marketing package developed in the course of the project can now be used as a model
for the 11 other long-distance cycling routes across Germany (D-routes).
European Destinations of Excellence 2009/2010 ("EDEN") competition focussing

on aquatic tourism
The European Commission has been holding the European Destinations of Excellence
(EDEN) competition ever since 2006. Based initially on competitions at the national
level and then at the European level, each year EDEN selects regions or destinations
that are not yet well know but that offer a quality experience that is particularly sustainable. With 25 Member States taking part, "aquatic tourism" was the chosen "theme of
excellence" for the 2009/2010 competition.
Germany also took part in this competition. The EDEN entry was in the form of a project
that was funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. The European
...
Page 35
Commission helped to co-fund the project and the German Tourism Association
(Deutscher Tourismusverband, DTV) acted as the project executing organisation.
The national winners were selected in May 2010 and then took part in the competition at
the European level. In Germany the winners were marketed both through the publicity
they received from the award, and also by the German National Tourist Board (DZT).
Marketing initiative for aquatic tourism
From December 2010 through to the end of 2012 the Federal Ministry of Economics
and Technology promoted the "Marketing Initiative for Aquatic Tourism" project with the
aim of raising the profile of Germany at the international level as a destination for waterbased tourism. The project is executed as part of the initiative of the German Bundestag
to "improve infrastructure and marketing for aquatic tourism in Germany". The Tourism
Association of Mecklenburg Western Pommerania (Tourismusverband MecklenburgVorpommern) acted as the project executing organisation.
The project modules comprised the development of action guidelines for small and
medium-sized operators of aquatic tourism facilities, the creation of an Internet platform
to better market Germany as a destination for water-based tourism, the harmonisation
of quality standards in aquatic tourism and the presentation of the project at the "Boot
2012" water sports trade fair in Dsseldorf.
Particular attention was given to small canoeing business enterprises and the implementation of minimum quality standards. Furthermore, the trade exhibition strategy
designed in the course of the project is to be used as the blueprint for future aquatic
tourism conventions and exhibitions to present Germany as a destination for waterrelated tourism.
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Celebrating 400 years of German immigrants in America - raising awareness for

the potential of heritage tourism in Germany
and
Placing new heritage products in Germany on the American market
From the very outset, these two projects were planned and communicated as a single
project and were promoted and funded during 2009 and 2010. Heritage tourism is a
new tourism market and had received very little attention at the national level up until
then. Nevertheless the German Tourism Association (DTV) and the German National
Tourist Board (DZT), with responsibility for the first and second part of the project
respectively, managed to secure the participation of practically every stakeholder
touching on the subject of emigration (businesses, agencies, German emigration
centres and museums).
In the first phase of the project the German Tourism Association organised a series of
workshops in 2009 for interested German service providers and institutions geared
towards awareness building, motivation and heritage product development for the
American market. These workshops saw the development of new products and the
creation of a network of partners which was to act as the base to internationally market
the services and facilities of the primarily small- and medium-sized businesses.
In the second project phase the German National Tourist Board channelled the findings
and products into a marketing campaign in the United States. The "Heritage tourism"
project managed to professionally and skilfully address a niche market that had not
previously been tapped. In the U.S. the "emigrant tourism" theme was explored and
pursued in greater detail.
Promoting tourism for children and young people
In 2012 the ruling coalition called for the Federal Government to support and continue to
promote tourism for children and young people (Bundestag printed paper 17 / 8451).
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Page 37
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is pleased to act on the proposal
and put specific measures in place to strengthen tourism for children and young people
- and thereby also Germany's position as a tourist destination - with the support of the
German National Tourist Board (DZT). It also results in positive knock-on effects for the
"Youth Hotspots in Germany" 2013 marketing campaign launched by the German
National Tourist Board. Apart from its economic significance, this topic is ultimately also
important from an overall societal perspective as getting to know your own country and
sharing information and ideas with other cultures and nationalities are formative experiences for young people, and occupy an increasingly important position in a globalised
world.
The German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) acted as the project executing organisation. Running from October 2012 through to April 2014, the project's goals include the
intensive international marketing of services and facilities for tourism for children and
young people, particularly by the German National Tourist Board, enhanced networking
and collaboration among providers of youth tourism services, and the development of a
professional marketing strategy. Six nationwide conferences are to be held to share
best practices and develop recommendations for action. The project is flanked by a
special advisory council made up of representatives of the tourism industry and nonprofit institutions.
Tourism: an important factor for the economy (see also Part 1.2 - Tourism: an important factor for the economy)
Building on studies from 2003 and 2005, the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology commissioned a study in November 2010 to gauge the contribution tourism
makes to the gross value added and employment in Germany based on the "tourism
satellite account", an internationally accepted methodology. The study was assigned to
the Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW), and DIW econ GmbH was
chosen as the project execution agency from several candidates.
The unabridged version can be accessed on the Internet, while a hard-copy brochure of
the executive summary is available in German and English (see also www.bmwi.de ).
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Innovative approaches to e-commerce in the tourism industry
In 2009 and 2010 the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology lent financial
support to the "Innovative Approaches to e-commerce in the Tourism Industry" project.
The project was executed by the German Travel Association (DRV).
In tandem with the University of Worms, new approaches for the use of the Internet in
the travel industry were developed, most notably in the field of e-commerce, and
examples of best practices in the tourism industry were analysed and described. As a
result, the Web 2.0 series of seminars was developed in 2009, while other seminars
concentrating on social media and various aspects of online marketing were also held.
Experienced IT specialists were brought on board for the seminars to share their
practical experience. For the enterprises whose representatives attended the seminars,
this opened up new areas of business that offered them the opportunity to be innovative
and successful even in a difficult economic climate.
Furthermore the seminars also compiled information about IT systems for the tourism
industry to assist businesses choose the right computer systems for their day-to-day
operations.
"Overnight visitor spending in Germany"
Between August 2008 and December 2009 the German Economic Research Institute
for Tourism at the University of Munich (dwif) compiled the baseline study on "Overnight
Visitor Spending in Germany" on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology and all the Lnder. This was a new edition of a study conducted in
1999/2000 and details whether and how the spending patterns of overnight visitors in
Germany have changed since then.
The data gathered underline the economic role of tourism, help the Lnder and regions
get a pulse on their competitive position and therefore provide a valuable basis for
making tourism policy decisions. The study delivers important structural and compara-
...
Page 39
tive data on the type and amount of tourist spending and the effects this has on income
and employment.
According to the study of the dwif, each overnight visitor at a commercial accommodation establishment with more than 8 beds spends 131.60 each day on average.
Benchmarked against data gathered in 2000 this represents a spending increase of
around 41 percent. Significantly higher increases in spending can be reported among
visitors staying in private accommodation, spending on average 72.10 per person per
day, and those staying in camping sites, averaging 45.60 per day. Averaged across all
types of accommodation service, each visitor spends 116.00 in Germany per day.
Accounting for the bulk of the spending (62 percent) the hospitality sector is the biggest
winner, but retail (18 percent) and other service sectors (20 percent) also benefit
considerably from the tourism industry. Overnight tourism can report gross earnings of
roughly 53 billion overall.
"German day-trippers"
The baseline study is a joint Federal-Lnder project. Following a pan-EU selection

procedure, dwif the German Economic Research Institute for Tourism, University of
Munich was assigned responsibility for project execution.
dwif managed to bring dwif Consulting and ADAC on board as project partners with
financial backing. The Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, Ernst
Burgbacher, kicked off the project in March 2012 and final results are expected in the
summer of 2013.
Day trips are the most important segment of in-Germany tourism (2006: 3.4 billion day
trips; revenues of roughly 94 billion plus 70 billion in travel expenses). The aim of the
project is to reassess the economic significance of day tourism and update the data
from the previous years (1986, 1993 and 2004 to 2006). The results can be used to
check whether existing programs are consistent with market needs, optimise the
utilisation of the transport and leisure infrastructure, initiate collaboration between key
players in the tourism industry, devise strategies and plans, and better gauge the
...
Page 40
potential for innovative investment. The aim is to also identify changes in behavioural
patterns and new trends, and to assess how they affect tourism-related leisure activities.
The content of the project focuses on surveying the intensity and frequency of day
excursions and day business trips among the German population. The study records
the amount spent, which is needed to determine the earnings of the sectors benefiting
from the day trips. In addition to socio-demographic data, the survey also compiles
information on the interrelations between source and target areas, seasonal patterns,
week cycles, main reasons for trip, activities, use of transport systems, distances
travelled, journey duration and group size for day trips. The survey is based on around
36,000 interviews (by TNS Infratest) that are held weekly for 12 months with the aid of a
representative telephone survey among residents.
"Certification of the Service Quality Germany quality system to meet DIN EN

ISO 9001 standards"
Motivated by the goal of improving and safeguarding the quality of service along the
entire value added chain in the tourism industry, an initiative has taken shape since
2007 for quality management across multiple sectors. The Lnder are partners to this
initiative, which goes by the name of "Service Quality Germany". Project executing
agency DTV acts as the agent and joint coordination body.
Work groups with responsibility for specific subject areas are responsible for the further
enhancement and refinement of the system. The priority is to create and optimise a
binding framework, binding content and binding processes for all levels of the cooperative association and for all partners. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology, the certification of SQD to DIN EN ISO 9001 seeks to create and implement the internal and binding quality assurance standards that are still outstanding.
Against the backdrop of increasing international competition among travel destinations,

better product and service quality gives Germany a competitive edge. Transparent
quality and transnational QA systems give customers direction. Running from Novem...
Page 41
ber 2009 to February 2013, the project therefore makes a key contribution to ensuring
that Germany can continue to offer tourism services with a remarkably good
price/quality ratio.
The camping market in Germany 2009/2010
The "Camping Market in Germany 2009/2010" study was compiled between November
2009 and March 2010 and funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. The German Tourism Association (DTV) was responsible for project execution. The
General German Automobile Club (ADAC), the Federal Camping Association of
Germany (BVCD) and the academic institute dwif-Consulting GmbH were involved in
the project.
With results based on updated data, analyses and new calculations concerning camping-related tourism underlined the economic importance of camping tourism in Germany
and provided figures for the earnings, income and number of individuals employed in
the sector.
"Hiking: a leisure and holiday market"
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology supported the "Hiking: a Leisure
and Holiday Market" study between 2008 and 2010, and the German Hiking Association
(DWV) was appointed the project executing agency. This was the first time ever that the
field of hiking was examined with regard to its economic impact, environmental and
mobility issues and in connection with demographic change and its potential from a
public health point of view.
From an economic perspective the central outcome of the study is that hiking-related
tourism effectively promotes business development in many regions. Day trippers and
overnight ramblers combined fork out close to 7.5 billion for their leisure activity in
Germany each year. Roughly 144,000 jobs depend directly on hiking tourism. An
analysis of the product groups in demand among hiking tourists reveals that cafs
...
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and restaurants are the biggest winners from the hiking industry (58 percent). The study
showed that the average rambler spends 90 each year on hiking gear, with total
annual spending on hiking-related equipment amounting to roughly 3.7 billion. Some
56 percent of the German population, or 40 million people, like to hike a trend that is
set to rise.
Rural areas, in particular, are pinning their hopes on hiking-related tourism as a growing
economic factor, and can advertise their services as a quality host for hikers on the
"Wanderbares Deutschland" Internet portal.
Travel by children and young people in Germany in 2008
Between March and October 2009, the Federal Forum for Travel by Children and Young
People (BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen) received funding for a study entitled
"Travel by children and young people in Germany in 2008 current data on structures
and volumes, proposals for continuous data compilation going forward, and steps to
create a reference framework". This study sought to compile up-to-date data on the
structure and volume of travel by children and young people on an ongoing basis and
provide planning guidance and tools, and thereby made a key contribution to the
economic success of all areas of tourism involving children and young people across
Germany.
Travel by children and young people is an important tourism segment with huge
potential for development both from an economic and educational perspective ("out-ofschool learning"). Overall 20 percent of all holidays within Germany are taken by
adolescents and young adults, with travel spend for journeys made by children and
young people totalling roughly 12 billion each year. The World Tourism Organisation
UNWTO expects children and young people to account for a 25 percent market share in
the tourism industry in the future.
...
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Travel patterns of Germans within Germany
The aim of the study conducted on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology was to examine the travel patterns of Germans, particularly with regard to
travel intensity and frequency, travel destinations, travel duration, time of travel and
travel organisation, modes of transport used, accommodation and spending. The results
are to aid policy-makers, the business community and associations in decision-making
processes.
Published during the 2013 ITB travel trade show, the study allowed the Federal Ministry
of Economics and Technology to shine a spotlight on domestic tourism and examine
what motivates Germans and - for the first time ever - German-speaking foreigners
living in Germany to go on holidays and what impressions they take with them from their
vacations.
The German National Tourist Board was responsible for the production of the study, the
results of which are available for download on the Internet (www.bmwi.de and
www.germany.travel.de).
2.2 Training and education in the tourism industry
The professional training of staff is critical to the competitiveness of the tourism industry,
consisting primarily of small- and medium-sized enterprises (roughly 131,700 restaurants and 41,300 accommodation facilities according to the Federal Statistical Office;
and roughly 2,500 tour operators, 10,400 travel agencies and 4,600 bus companies
according to the German Travel Association (DRV)). Against the backdrop of the
challenges presented by the demographic change there is a pressing need to offer
more people good, certified training and education to increase the rate of employment
on the long term. The priority is create and strengthen awareness for this among the
midmarket business operations.
The training of professionals is pivotal to the success of the tourism industry in Germany. To meet the future demands for quality tourism, it is therefore imperative to already
...
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make the principles of sustainable tourism and the implementation of sustainable

tourism a key component of the initial and continuing training programmes in the
tourism and leisure industry.
Training in the tourism industry

Close to 60 percent of all young people in Germany earn their qualifications through the
dual system of vocational training and education. Training is provided on the basis of
the roughly 345 training regulations currently in place for state recognised occupations
requiring formal training (training occupations). They form the legal basis for the specific
implementation of in-company vocational training, and are complemented by the
framework curricula for vocational schools. The training provided by companies is
flanked by inter-company seminars and additional skills development programs.
The dual vocational training system in the tourism and leisure industry has a high
standing. A total of twelve occupations requiring formal training are available in the
tourism industry, including six occupations in the hospitality sector, air traffic management, shipping and chartering management, transport service agent, aviation services
specialist, and tourism and leisure agent - a profession which was introduced in 2005.
Furthermore the formal training to become a travel agent was overhauled in 2011, and
the program is now known as tourism and travel management (agent for private and
business travel).
Nevertheless the results of an online business training survey conducted by the DIHK in
2012 revealed that - compared with the rest of the industry - the hospitality sector has
by far the biggest problems in attracting young people for training and in filling training
places. 52 percent of businesses reported problems in this area in 2011, compared with
53 percent in 2010 and 43 percent in 2009. In the new Lnder (former east Germany)
two thirds of cafes and restaurants claim that they are unable to fill all positions, with the
following reasons cited: lack of suitable candidates (66%); individual did not commence
training (21%); early termination of training agreement (31%); no applications submitted
whatsoever (30%).
...
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Table
Training relationships in the tourism sector 2012
Total training
relationships
Hospitality sector
specialist
(Fachkraft im
Gastgewerbe)
Hotel management
(Hotelfachmann/-frau)
Hotel commerce and
finance clerk
(Hotelkaufmann/-frau)
Cook
(Koch/Kchin)
Restaurant management
(Restaurantfachmann/frau)
System catering
specialist
(Fachmann/-frau fr
Systemgastronomie)
Total professions in
the hospitality sector
(I).
Travel agent1
(Reiseverkehrskaufmann/-frau)
Tourism and travel

management (agent
for private and business travel)
(Tourismuskaufmann/frau (Kaufmann/-frau
fr Privat und Geschftsreisen))
Air traffic management
2
3
4
5
4,695
Training
contracts,
thereof with
women
2,979
23,866
17,428
1,063
671
New training contracts

concluded in 2012, and
change on previous year
in %
2,608 -15.73
9,796 -6.22
481
+9.32
25,757
6,010
10,551 -12.16
8,410
5,694
3,706 -15.16
5,172
2,682
2,082 -8.60
68,963
35,464
29,224 -10.47
1,761
1,483
3,439
2,916
94
64
2,042
33
Profession has
been replaced by
the tourism and
travel management profession
+22.05
+10.00
Effective from 1 August 2011 the formal training programme to become a travel agent was amended
and replaced by the new training regulation for tourism and travel management (agent for private and
business travel).
...
Page 46
Total training
relationships
10
11
12
(Luftverkehrskaufmann/-frau)
Shipping and chartering management
(Schifffahrtskaufmann/frau)
Transport service
agent
(Kaufmann/-frau fr
Verkehrsservice)
Aviation services
specialist
(Servicekaufmann/frau im Luftverkehr)
Tourism and leisure
agent
(Kaufmann/-frau fr
Tourismus und
Freizeit)
Total other (II)
Tourism-related
professions in total
(I+II)
951
1,075
283
1,209
Training
contracts,
thereof with
women
New training contracts

concluded in 2012, and
change on previous year
in %
445
338
-12.21
663
406
+6.00
227
105
-2.78
964
464
+1.31
8,812
6,762
3,388 -3.75
77,775
42,226
32,612 -9.81
Source: Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry
The hospitality sector has entered into many partnerships with schools and is relying
heavily on an additional range of internships for school-goers. The hospitality sector is
the only sector where the search for trainees from abroad has assumed a significant
dimension (3 percent). The sector depends heavily on online job portals (38 percent)
and social networks (31 percent) in its search for candidates. Furthermore, at 32
percent the share of business establishments that are prepared to significantly lower the
qualification requirements of applicants is twice as high as the average in other sectors.
There was a significant increase in the percentage of businesses in the hospitality
sector that intend to hire young trainees on a full-time basis once they have completed
their period of training (while 16 percent planned to do so in 2011, this had already risen
to 27 percent in 2012). Similarly, 27 percent of business enterprises in the hospitality
...
Page 47
sector were unable to hire trainees as the trainees chose to join another business or
opted to pursue other education channels despite being offered a full-time position after
training. However in this particular industry, it is perceived as positive if individuals move
from one establishment to another for a few years as it gives them the opportunity to
hone their skills and develop them further. The willingness to fill training positions with
young people with learning difficulties is also comparatively high, with only 11 percent
(14 percent in 2010) of all business operations rejecting this option outright. In this
industry the priority is for individuals to have social skills, i.e. they need to be friendly
and communicative when dealing with customers and be able to work well in teams
(source: Online "Training 2012" business survey of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK)).
Training programmes in the tourism industry Tourism and travel management (agent for private and business travel)
Demographic change is also altering the visitor structure and the labour market in the
tourism industry. Even today it is already difficult to fill positions in some tourism-related
jobs, which is why the priority must now be to further increase the appeal of the tourism
industry as a place to work.
Well-qualified staff with solid training and education in line with market needs are
therefore essential to safeguarding the long-term economic success of the tourism
industry. The new occupation requiring formal training entitled "tourism and travel
management (agent for private and business travel)" was introduced on 19 May 2011
and in this connection constitutes an important and correct signal for the industry and
for young people. It replaces the travel agent training occupation which was previously
in place.
The evolution of the travel industry towards a multifaceted business structure and the
shift from a seller's market to a buyer's market place completely new demands on both
services and staff. Project management skills and knowledge of business travel needs
are becoming increasing important and essential in business practice.
...
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For this reason, while still containing the aspect of tour organisation and travel management focussed primarily on private travel, the overhauled training occupation now
also includes business travel as a new field of business. This broader approach and the
new direction of the occupation is therefore also reflected in the name of the recognised
occupation, "tourism and travel management (agent for private and business travel)",
making a clear distinction between this occupation and the "tourism and leisure agent"
occupation geared towards incoming tourism. The training program takes three years in
total.
Study programmes
An overview of all the universities, universities of applied sciences and professional
academies that offer tourism-related and tourist management study courses is provided
under www.Tourismus-Studieren.de. Candidates can also search for possible study
programmes in the preferred field of study in the university finder tool provided by the
Conference of University Directors.
In contrast to the programmes at universities of applied sciences and professional

academies, the courses at universities tend to have a more theoretical approach and
are more geared towards acquiring general skills to work in the industry. The new
bachelor and master degree courses help prepare individuals directly to work as a
tourism professional and are normally run in close collaboration with partner companies
in the business community and have a strong practical element.
Continuing education in the tourism industry

Continuing education, building generally on a state recognised occupation requiring
formal training, is a central pillar of measures to professionalise workers. This is also
true of the tourism industry in which many individuals continue to make use of the
current continuing education opportunities. Aiming to reach out to individuals interested
in continuing education from as many areas of the tourism industry as possible, the
continuing professional development programme to become a "certified senior tourism
clerk" was modernised in 2011 and entered into force on 1 July 2012.
...
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Promotion of continuing professional development (CPD) in the tourism industry

The promotion of CPD in the tourism industry was restructured following calls for
reorganisation from the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee of 26 September
2009. The aim was to open up competition in the promotion of CPD and for all suitable
providers on the market to be able to take part in CPD.
To this end, a Continuing Professional Development Directive (Fortbildungsrichtlinie)

was developed on the basis of which suitable training companies can apply with
projects. The Funding Directive for the Promotion of Continuing Professional Development (Frderrichtlinie zur Fortbildungsfrderung) was published in the Federal Gazette
on October 2010 and entered into force one day later. Furthermore, the promotion of
continuing vocational education and training (CVET) constitutes a core element of
labour market policy and is complemented by special programmes run by the Federal
Employment Agency.
In addition, the Federal Government also supports CPD measures within the framework
of suitable projects to boost performance and enhance service in the tourism sector. For
example, as part of the project to "Develop and market accessible offerings and services in Germany" (see also Part 2.1 - Improving competitiveness, boosting performance priority projects for the tourism industry), training courses and seminars are
also offered to upskill key players along the tourism service chain with regard to accessibility and "tourism for all".
Table
CET examinations held by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce
and Industry in the field of tourism in 2011
Total number of candi-
Candidates who passed
dates
Certified senior clerks
(Fachwirte) (I)
1. Certified senior tourism
306
252
655
531
clerk (Tourismusfachwirt)
2. Certified senior transport
...
Page 50
Total number of candi-
Candidates who passed
dates
operations clerk
(Verkehrsfachwirt)
Certified senior clerks, total
961
783
723
505
108
87
104
75
935
667
(I)
Master-level certification
(Fachmeister) (II)
3. Head chef
(Kchenmeister)
4. Certified hotel manager
(Hotelmeister)
5. Certified restaurant
manager
(Restaurantmeister)
Master-level certification,
total (II)
Tourism-related CVET,
1,896
1,450
total (I+II)
Source: Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications

The tour manager/tourist guide profession is regulated in some EU Member States,
such as Italy or France. Under the provisions of the Directive on the Recognition of
Professional Qualifications, German tour managers who accompany travel groups in
such EU Member States as part of temporary cross-border services, must furnish proof
of two years' professional experience.
To support German tour managers when accompanying travel groups to other Member
States, the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry worked closely with the
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the German Travel Association to
develop certificates of conformity that can be issued to interested tour managers. These
...
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certificates make it easier for tour managers to prove that they meet the requirements of
the Professional Qualifications Directive in situations in which the profession is regulated in the country of destination.
2.3 Regional and structural policy for the tourism industry
Joint Federal/Lnder Scheme for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures

Regional policy in Germany seeks to help structurally weak regions to take part in
general economic development by compensating for the disadvantages of their location,
and to close the gap between regional development disparities. In particular, regional
policy makes a key contribution to strengthening overall economic growth in structurally
weak regions, facilitating the structural change that is needed for growth by creating
jobs that are competitive on the long term, and relieving the burden on the regional
labour markets. Regional policy is therefore of central importance to strengthening the
position of Germany as a tourism location.
The Joint Federal Government/Lnder Scheme for the Improvement of Regional

Economic Structures is the central instrument of regional policy that is geared towards
establishing equal living conditions in Germany (Act for the Improvement of the Regional Economic Structure (GRW-Gesetz) of 6 October 1969, Federal Law Gazette I, Page
1861, last amended by Article 8 of the Act of 7 September 2007, Federal Law Gazette I,
Page 2246). Regional economic structural improvement funds can be used to promote:
Investment in trade and industry, including the tourism industry
Municipal investment in commerce-related infrastructure including tourismrelated basic infrastructure measures (site development for tourism and public
tourism facilities)
Non-investment measures and other programmes to strengthen the competitiveness of businesses, to support structural problems with regional policies and to
support regional activities
...
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Basic tourism infrastructure measures typically include information centres and systems, spa and sea-front promenades, bathing facilities or cycling and hiking routes.
Much of the regional economic structural improvement funds are directed towards
tourism.
Further to this, regional management projects, cooperation networks, cluster management projects and regional budget projects are supported to pool regional development
activities and drive collaboration in and between the regions. These projects are also
specifically implemented to activate regional measures in the field of tourism.
By common consent, the Federal Government and the Lnder define the framework for
regional economic structural improvement funding and the appropriation of funds. The
Lnder are responsible for executing the funding and promotion programmes.
The following tables illustrate the use of regional economic structural improvement
funding for the tourism sector for 2009-2012, broken down into trade and industry and
commerce-related infrastructure.
Trade and industry: promotion of accommodation and catering sector

Amounts authorised in 2009-2012 period
Number of Level of
cases
Authorised
investment in regional
million euro
Permanent jobs
Additional Safe-
economic
guarded
structural
improvement
funding in
million euro
Old Lnder
207
359.58
65.78
999
2,846
(including Berlin)
550
906.22
259.31
3,143
6,017
Total
757
1,265.80 325.09
4,142
8,863
New Lnder
...
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Commerce-related infrastructure: promotion of site development and public facilities

for the tourism industry
Amounts authorised in 2009-2012 period
Number of cases
Level of investment Authorised regional

in million euro
economic structural
improvement
funding in million
euro
Old Lnder
88
249.57
132.85
(including Berlin)
388
468.09
344.00
Total
476
717.66
476.85
New Lnder
Funding of around 583 million is earmarked in the 2013 federal budget for the improvement of the regional economic structure. This also includes 7 million for guarantee losses. Further to this, provisions are also made for commitment appropriations
totalling roughly 576 million over 2014, 2015 and 2016. The ratio of commitment
appropriation has been defined as 6/7 for the new Lnder and Berlin and 1/7 for the old
Lnder. Following a principle of co-funding, the Lnder match the amount of funding
provided in the federal budget.
More information is available at www.bmwi.de (search term: improving regional economic structures) or on the websites of the ministries of economics of the federal states
or the websites of the state senate departments for economics.
EU structural policy
The aim of EU structural policy is to create more growth and jobs in Europe. To this
end, EU structural funds (the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and
European Social Fund (ESF)) are primarily channelled into less developed regions to
help the regions grow. At the same time, in line with the Lisbon Strategy and the Europe
2020 Strategy, the funds are also used to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive
growth in all regions of Europe.
...
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Germany is receiving a total of roughly 26.3 billion (in current prices) in the current
2007-2013 structural funding period, with roughly 15.3 billion apportioned to the new
Lnder and roughly 10.2 billion to the old Lnder. The overall strategy of EU structural
funding in Germany is set out in the "National Strategic Reference Framework for the
Use of EU Structural Funds in the Federal Republic of Germany" (NSRF). The NSRF
forms the basis to the Operational Programmes of the Lnder and the Federal Government, which, in turn, act as the basis for selecting specific projects. It also lays the
foundations for the promotion of tourism through the EU structural funds in Germany.
The promotion of tourism is covered by the priorities centred on the "development and
safeguarding of infrastructure for sustainable growth" and the "elimination of regional
disparities and the development of specific regional potential through sustainable
regional development". The legal basis for the promotion of tourism is provided in the
ERDF regulation: The promotion of tourism is specifically cited as an eligible activity for
convergence regions which includes the new Lnder and the Lneburg region while
tourism is indirectly eligible for funding through the "protection of natural and cultural
heritage" in regions which fall within the scope of the goal to "promote regional competitiveness and employment".
Many countries have availed of the opportunity to promote tourism in their area through
EU structural fund programmes. For all the German ERDF projects in the 2007-2013
period, a total of roughly a half a billion euros in funding is planned for infrastructure
projects in the field of tourism. Examples include networks of cycle routes and hiking
paths, information boards, nature trails and observation towers for wild animals in
"Nature 2000" regions, tourism amenities and information centres, as well as parks,
gardens, museums and exhibitions centres. Furthermore, investment in the area of
monuments/culture, tourism-related marketing measures and integrated regional
development programs including tourism initiatives constitute a particular funding focus.
Specific cultural and rural potential, such as proximity to water or mountains, is taken
into consideration for improving and redirecting regional tourism. Tourism projects often
overlap with projects from other disciplines, such as sport, health, the environment or
culture. Bridleways and skater lanes, thermal spas and health resorts, geological nature
trails and nature conservation centres, and monuments and cultural centres are just
some examples of projects that have received funding. In addition there are also
...
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projects that trigger positive secondary effects for the tourism industry such as projects
focussing on sustainable urban development that convert brownfield sites into local
recreational areas, or the organisation of events, such as flower shows, that focus on
one specific subject area. Another large area of tourism promotion concerns the area of
commercial tourism that benefits many sectors, notably accommodation establishments.
To be able to promote tourism projects with EU structural funds beyond 2013 it will be
important to pay increased attention to the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The
ERDF funds should be concentrated on specific topics, namely innovation, research
and development, the strengthening of the competitive position of SMEs, and measures
to cut carbon emissions in all sectors of industry. The ESF should also only be used for
a range of clearly defined priority investment areas.
Tourism projects can continue to be supported by EU structural funds provided that the
funding measures in question are suitable to promote growth and competitiveness on
the long term. The current funding period already includes projects that support the
innovative collaboration and networking of tourism service providers, tourism-related
information and communication technology, innovative single-company investment
made by businesses in the tourism industry, such as the hotel and catering sector, and
sustainable tourism models that are in harmony with nature. Funding for such projects
could be extended in the future. In contrast tourism-related infrastructure projects will
only be eligible for funding if the project in question involves mini-infrastructures that
support the "indigenous growth potential" of a region.
2.4 Germany as a travel destination the German National Tourist Board (DZT)
Organisational structure and cooperation partners

The DZT is Germany's National Tourist Board. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, it
develops and communicates strategies and products to build on the positive image of
German travel destinations abroad and increase incoming tourism to Germany. The
marketing and sales activities are based on a detailed market analysis and market
appraisal in the source markets. To this end, the German National Tourist Board has 6
regional management centres worldwide with 30 country representatives across five
...
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continents, including offices in New York, Sydney, Beijing, Budapest, Belgrade, Brussels and London. The German National Tourist Board co-operates worldwide with the
German Chambers of Commerce Abroad, the Oversees Trade Exhibition Division of the
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and AUMA, the Association of the
German Trade Fair Industry.
The German National Tourist Board is a non-profit organisation with the legal form of a
registered association (eingetragener Verein). Its members include businesses, state
marketing organisations, and associations that reflect the broad range of interests of the
tourism industry, with the number of members more than doubling from 33 in 2000 to 68
by the end of 2012. As a public-private-partnership project in the tourism industry, the
German National Tourist Board works with numerous organisations and partners in the
media and the business community. Cooperation partners include:
Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club e.V. (German Bicycle Club)
AlpineTourist Commission
Deutsche Welle (Germany's international broadcaster)
Deutsches Kstenland e.V. (German Coastlands Association)
Deutscher Wanderverband (German Hiking Society)
Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund/Deutsche Sport Marketing GmbH (DOSB/DSM)

(German Olympian Sport Association/German Sport Marketing Company)
European Travel Commission (ETC)
German Convention Bureau e.V. (GCB)
Historic Highlights of Germany e.V.
Nationale KoordinationsstelleTourismus fr Alle e.V.

(National Coordination Centre for Tourism for All)
Magic Cities Germany e.V.
UNESCO-Welterbesttten Deutschland e.V.

(UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany)
Pacific Asia Travel Organisation (PATA)
POT Polish Organisation for Tourism.
Goethe Institute
...
Page 57
Funding and duties

The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology funds the German National Tourist
Board as an institutional grant recipient on behalf of the German Bundestag. The
German National Tourist Board generates roughly one third of its funding needs through
contributions from members and services for third parties. Further to this, members and
partner businesses support the German National Tourist Board by providing grants and
benefits in kind. Following an increase of 0.5 million, federal funding to the German
National Tourist Board totalled 28.275 million in 2013. The additional funds will be
channelled into marketing in south eastern Europe, an important emerging market for
incoming tourism to Germany. In May 2012, the German National Tourist Board opened
up a new foreign branch office in Belgrade with responsibility for the source markets of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Rumania and Serbia. The first
promotional tours of the German National Tourist Board to present Germany as a travel
destination kicked off in autumn 2012 and were very well received by the travel industry
in south eastern Europe.
Factoring in the statutory salary increase based on wage and salary agreements,
federal funding amounted to 28.275 million for the 2013 budget year. 28.361 million
are earmarked for the 2014 and 2015 budget years, also taking statutory salary increases based on wage and salary agreements into consideration.
The duties of the German National Tourist Board are defined annually with the Federal
Ministry of Economics and Technology in specific target agreements, with its most
important role being that of providing the midmarket with a platform for international
marketing activities. For many SMEs in the tourism sector, participation in international
activities is often only possible through the German National Tourist Board. The consistently high numbers of SMEs participating in trade exhibitions and workshops and the
positive feedback from the tourism industry underline the success of the German
National Tourist Board's marketing strategy. Following a decision of the Conference of
Ministers of Economics in June 2010, the German National Tourist Board's mandate for
domestic marketing expired at the end of 2011. This was in keeping with a requirement
of the German Supreme Audit Institution (Bundesrechnungshof) to not use federal
funding for marketing activities for the benefit of the Lnder.
...
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To appraise its public relations activities and sales and marketing measures, the
German National Tourist Board regularly performs performance reviews. A study
commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology in 2011 to evaluate the performance monitoring mechanisms used by the German National Tourist
Board found that the German National Tourist Board deploys its success-monitoring
instruments effectively.
Marketing
The most important marketing platform for the German travel industry is the German
Travel Mart (GTM). Organised by the German National Tourist Board and held
annually at different locations in Germany, the GTM focuses on outreach and networking, acquisition and the conclusion of specific business deals. Apart from big-name
companies, many smaller outfits are also among the German businesses presenting
their services. 544 German providers were represented at the 38th GTM Germany
Travel Mart held in Leipzig in 2012, where they met international experts and journalists from 45 countries. On average each German exhibitor was able to arrange 18
business appointments in two workshop days. Over 90 percent of participating businesses rated the GTM 2012 as successful. The GTM 2013 will be held in Stuttgart.
With its www.germany.travel website available in 26 languages, the German National

Tourist Board offers users a global portal that provides comprehensive information
about Germany as a travel destination. Having earned the Gold Award 2012 from the
Pacific Asia Travel Association, the German National Tourist Board also enjoys international recognition. Its marketing strategies include the presentation of a specific topic
each year and PR themes. 2009, for example, focussed specifically on "20 Years since
the Fall of the Wall". Receiving much attention worldwide, the anniversary celebration
attracted over two million people to Berlin alone that year. The German National Tourist
Board organised an international photo exhibition in 21 countries that drew some 2.3
million visitors and reached 3,000 disseminators of the travel industry and the media.
Other topics in 2009 included "90 Years of Bauhaus" in Weimar and the 250th anniversary of the death of composer George Frideric Handel, while the topic for 2010 was
"300 Years of Porcelain".
The FIFA Women's Football World Cup was the central topic of 2011. With "Enthusiasm
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- we're on the ball" as its slogan, the German National Tourist Board presented Germany as a service-centric event location with a modern infrastructure. To this end, the
German National Tourist Board received an additional 750,000 in funding from the
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. The second major topic for 2011 was
the 125th anniversary of the automobile in Germany. Extensive marketing activities and
PR events in the main target markets of the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy
and China received excellent feedback from the media.
The German National Tourist Board focussed on Germany as a MICE and trade show
destination with its theme for 2012: "Germany - open for business". Total earnings in the
business travel sector in Germany amount to roughly 60 billion annually, with business
travel among Europeans to Germany increasing in 2012 by 12.3 percent to 13 million
trips. On its international website http://www.germany.travel/en/business-travel/tradefairs/business-travel/ the German National Tourist Board provides information about
trade fair and convention centres in Germany and services for the business traveller.
Marketing activities also include press and customer events in New York, Shanghai,
Brussels and London and participation in trade shows focussing on the business travel
sector in Germany, Spain and America.
With "Youth Travel to Germany Hotspots, Brandnew, Lifestyle" the motto for 2013, the
German National Tourist Board is reaching out to young adults aged 34 and under, and
kicked off a comprehensive social media campaign for youth travel at the 2013 ITB
travel trade show. In 2011, the German National Tourist Board announced a competition among students at 126 universities in Great Britain on Facebook. The promotional
contest reached up to 2.4 million students with the winner of an eight-day trip to Germany reporting about his experiences in Germany online every day.
The topics selected by the German National Tourist Board for the coming years are:
2014: UNESCO World Heritage for Sustainable Cultural and Nature Tourism
2015: Celebrating 25 Years of German Unity
2016: Fascinating Ecotourism in Germany's Nature and National Parks
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The specific topics for the individual years are complemented by the following PR
themes:
2013:
200th Birthday of Richard Wagner
150th Anniversary of the Death of the Brother Grimm
150th Birthday of Henry van de Velde
50 Years of the Elyse Treaty
2014:
600 Years of the Council of Constance
25 Years of the Peaceful Revolution in Leipzig
2015:
500th Birthday of Lucas Cranach the Younger
2017: Luther 2017: 500 Years of Reformation Religious Travels through Germany
Part 3 Collaboration at the European and international level in tourism policy
3.1 European tourism policy
New authority of the European Union (EU) for tourism

For the first time ever the EU was granted limited responsibility for tourism with the
signing of the Lisbon Treaty, entitling the EU in general to "carry out actions to support,
coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States" (Article 6 d of the Treaty on
the Functioning of the European Union).
The specific powers of the EU to act with regard to tourism are laid down in the Treaty
on the Functioning of the European Union as follows:
Title XXII
Tourism
Article 195
(1) The Union shall complement the action of the Member States in the tourism sector,
in particular by promoting the competitiveness of Union undertakings in that sector.
To that end, Union action shall be aimed at:
a) encouraging the creation of a favourable environment for the development of
undertakings in this sector;
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b) promoting cooperation between the Member States, particularly by the

exchange of good practice.
(2) The European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary
legislative procedure, shall establish specific measures to complement actions within
the Member States to achieve the objectives referred to in this Article, excluding any
harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States.
In light of this new authority, reference is increasingly made to tourism in legal instruments proposed by the European Commission (e.g. in the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs - COSME). For the first time ever tourism was also
included in a general-policy strategy paper of the European Commission: in one of its
guidelines the "Europe 2020" growth strategy makes specific reference to "enhancing
the competitiveness of the European tourism sector".
Apart from direct measures under tourism policy, a wide range of activities in other
European policy areas also affect tourism, including consumer policy (reform of the
Package Travel Directive), security policy (visa regulations) or transport policy (Single
European Sky) and statistics (Regulation on Statistics on Tourism of July 2011).
Framework for action for European tourism communication of the European
Commission of 2010
To tap the full potential of the new responsibility for tourism as set out in the Lisbon
Treaty, the European Commission issued a communication on 30 June 2010 entitled
"Europe, the world's No 1 tourist destination a new political framework for tourism in
Europe" (COM(2010) 352 final). With due regard to the priorities defined in the "Europe
2020" strategy, in this way the European Commission wishes to promote a coordinated
approach for initiatives related to tourism policy and create a new framework for action
for tourism.
To deliver on its goals, the European Commission proposes a total of 21 actions to

promote tourism. These actions fall under four specific priority areas:
Stimulate competitiveness in the European tourism sector
Promote the development of sustainable, responsible and high-quality tourism
Consolidate the image of Europe as a high-quality tourist destination

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Maximise the potential of EU financial policies and instruments for developing

tourism
The European Commission is currently working intensively on implementing its catalogue of measures. Many of the projects it announced are already in the planning or
implementation stage. Examples include:
The development of a European "Qualit Tourisme" brand
The development of an ICT platform to make it easier for the tourism industry to
adapt to new information technology
The creation of a "virtual tourism observatory"
Encouraging the extension of the tourism season (example: continuation of the

"CALYPSO" initiative to promote cross-border tourism among certain key groups
(social tourism) in the low season)
The development of a system of indicators for sustainable management of destinations (example: continuation of the "EDEN" initiative with an award for sustainable tourist destinations with a different theme each year)
The development of a charter for sustainable and responsible tourism and a

strategy for sustainable coastal and marine tourism within the framework of the
"Blue Growth" initiative
The creation of a "Europe brand"
Contributing over 5 percent to the EU gross domestic product, the major economic role
of tourism was recognised with the Lisbon Treaty and the transfer of certain responsibilities to the EU. The Federal Government therefore welcomes the European Commission's wish to place more focus on tourism at the European level (statement of the
Federal Government of 19 July 2010 regarding the tourism communication of the
European Commission from 30 June 2010). In particular the Federal Government
appreciates the fact that the European Commission, in its communication, specifically
takes on board the many challenges facing the tourism industry, such as climate
change, an ageing society, or the economic and financial crisis. The intention of the
European Commission to align tourism policy instruments more closely at the European
level is also in Germany's interest.
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The Federal Government is particularly vigilant in ensuring that the EU institutions do

not exceed the powers set out in the Lisbon Treaty (Article 195) when exercising their
new tourism-related responsibilities and that the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality are respected. By doing so the Federal Government wishes to avert any danger
of the European Commission overstepping its responsibility for tourism - which is merely
supplementary - and interfering in national tourism policies. For this reason, the Federal
Government also rejects any considerations to make additional funding available for the
promotion of tourism at the EU level.
Supplementary tourism policy at the EU level can make a contribution to the positive
development of the sector provided that it is focussed on actions concerning true
European added value. In its interaction with the European Commission, the Federal
Government is firmly in favour of foregoing projects that give cause for concern from the
perspective of competition policy, involve additional administration and spending for the
Member States, or whose added value for tourism development in the Member States
cannot be identified. Further to this, the Federal Government is in favour of performing
an in-depth cost-benefit analysis in advance of any intended measures at the European
level.
The considerations mentioned define the position the Federal Government takes with
regard to specific European plans to promote tourism. In a wide range of areas both
Germany and the European Commission actively seek to improve collaboration among
the Member States and create useful and sensible frameworks. This includes measures
to promote European cultural heritage, the use of modern technology or training and
education in the tourism industry. In addition, Germany is generally open to initiatives
that support its own national projects, such as projects focussing on accessible tourism.
In contrast the Federal Government is particularly sceptical of projects where it questions the European added value such projects bring. Examples include the planned
introduction of different labelling schemes or the creation of a new "Europe brand".
Given the slew of vastly different national or regional quality labels, there is still a need
to clarify whether additional quality labels at the European level can be established
successfully using objective and balanced criteria. In the Federal Government's opinion,
running joint marketing measures to advertise Europe as a travel destination can also
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be useful and make sense in an isolated instance. On the other hand, in the case of all
joint activities it is important to bear in mind that the development and advertising of
destinations is the actual responsibility of the Member States and their regions and that
therefore all the Member States are competing with one another to attract visitors.
The Federal Government objects to projects that are distant from the market, such as
the promotion of tourist exchange programmes in certain key groups (young people,
senior citizens, low-income families) out of season (see the report of the Federal
Government of 7 January 2011 on the content of the EU CALYPSO initiative and the
result of the appraisal of time-tested processes in the Member States). It is the Federal
Government's opinion that all the initiatives which as experience shows are based
on exchange programmes that are at least partly funded by public money are not
suitable for creating stable and sustainable service structures in the specific target
areas in the long term. Steering and redirecting the flow of tourists ignores existing and
functioning market mechanisms and can result in a subsidy race between the Member
States. Such a situation must be avoided particularly in times when public funding is
scarce everywhere.
3.2 Bilateral collaboration
Generally speaking bilateral collaboration of the Federal Government in the field of tourism
is incorporated into the general collaboration of governments with regard to economic
policy. Tourism cooperation is a regular topic of meetings and conventions of bilateral
cooperation councils, economic commissions etc.
The Federal Government considers the further development of bilateral tourism to be

primarily a task of the tourism industry. Therefore up to now it has always kept its distance
from signing bilateral agreements on collaboration in tourism with governments of other
countries and will continue to maintain this position in the future.
In recent years the Federal Government has paid much attention to the development of
tourism in the traditional holiday destinations of Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. Even though
the countries have different problems that have negatively impacted tourism, the Federal
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Government considers it an important task to take action to reactivate tourism in the

countries mentioned.
Accompanied by high-profile representatives of the tourism industry, the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, Ernst Burgbacher, travelled for meetings several times to
Egypt, Tunisia and Greece and met ministers and state secretaries of these countries for
talks in Berlin. The Federal Government encourages the German tourism industry to lend
support and expertise to the partners in the aforementioned countries.
3.3 Collaboration on tourism policy within the framework of the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology represents Germany on the OECD
Tourism Committee. In the work that it has conducted in recent years the Tourism
Committee has delivered increasing quality and deeper interlinkages with other policy
areas of the OECD.
The topics dealt with by the Tourism Committee contribute to the comprehensive
exchange of information and ideas on current tourism-related issues and to the exchange of best tourism policy practices among OECD Member States. This is also
important for Germany. Germany is a leading travel destination in Europe and is very
well respected on the Tourism Committee.
New trends in tourism with effects on tourism policy are identified and countries share
their experience in policy implementation. Topics and studies of other directorates of the
OECD are also included in the discussion provided they affect tourism in some form,
such as climate change, green growth, sustainability, art and culture, liberalisation,
travel safety and security, and infrastructure.
The most important tasks of the Tourism Committee include:
Maximising the positive effects of tourism on economic and social areas and on
the environment;
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Promoting sustainable tourism development as the basis for economic growth,

the creation of jobs and the eradication of poverty;
Enhancing the infrastructure and the image of destinations in the interests of the
local population, tourists and investors;
Supporting OECD Member States in designing an effective tourism policy.
These tasks are in line with priority areas defined in the Federal Government's tourism
policy.
Affiliated with the Tourism Committee, the Statistics Task Force has been delivering
trendsetting work for many years. Comprising tourism statistics experts from the OECD
Member States, the Statistics Task Force has collaborated with EUROSTAT and the
World Tourism Organisation to develop methodologies, such as the tourism satellite
account (TSA) which is now used worldwide including in Germany. This methodology
is to be further refined in the Statistics Task Force.
Since 2011 there has been closer collaboration between the OECD Tourism Committee
and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the European Commission. While
the functions, contents and standard operating procedures of the individual organisations differ it was clear that much synergy could be leveraged. Agreements have been
signed on collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
3.4 Collaboration on tourism policy within the framework of the UNWTO (World
Tourism Organisation)
Since 1976 Germany has been a full member of the World Tourism Organisation whose
task it is to "promote and develop the tourism industry as a contributor to economic
development, international understanding, peace, prosperity, respect for freedom and
human rights for everyone without distinction as to race, gender, language and religion"
(charter of the World Tourism Organisation).
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For Germany the UNWTO is an important forum for multilateral involvement in the global
development of the tourism industry in the interests of securing peace, promoting growth
and employment, eradicating poverty and protecting the environment and resources.
Headquartered in Madrid, the UNWTO currently has 155 full members and 7 associated
members, with the number of affiliate members exceeding 400.
The German ambassador in Madrid is the permanent representative of the Federal

Republic of Germany at the UNWTO. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
has principal responsibility for collaborative work with the UNWTO.
The UNWTO is primarily funded through compulsory contributions made by the full
members, with the contribution amount factoring in the economic strength and the role of
tourism in the Member States. 12.4 million was budgeted for in 2012, and Germany's
contribution amounted to around 325,000.
Germany has been an elected member of the Executive Council of the UNWTO since 2005
and in the second election period in particular (2010 to 2013) made every effort to ensure
that the work of the UNWTO is more effective. As a result it has been possible to stabilise
the budget and to keep the contributions paid by the Member States relatively constant in
six consecutive years.
For the next few years the Federal Government is also committed to the goal of zero
nominal growth within the framework of budget negotiations with international organisations. As a result of this the UNWTO will need to concentrate even more on its core
competencies and examine and implement additional cost-cutting measures.
The primary tasks of the UNWTO include:

The global organisation of responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism
The promotion of tourism as an engine of economic growth and development and the
promotion of the conservation and sustainable use of the environment and natural
landscape
Support for the tourism sector through the global dissemination of latest findings in
the areas of tourism policy, the tourism industry and marketing
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Recording statistics on the development of the tourism industry worldwide

The development of tourism as a vehicle to attain the millennium development goals
(MDGs) to alleviate poverty and strengthen sustainable development
The UNWTO's work programme for the 2012-2013 period focuses primarily on two priority
areas:
Improving competitiveness
Increasing sustainability in the tourism industry
All the activities of the UNWTO are guided by these two priorities.
Born on the sidelines of the 19th UNWTO General Assembly in October 2009, the T20
Initiative was agreed by the UNWTO Member States that are part of the G20. The initiative
sought to further heighten the awareness of the heads of state and government of the role
tourism plays as a driver of growth, development and employment, and ultimately include
tourism in the agenda of the G20 summit meetings. Between 2010 and 2012, the tourism
ministers of the G20 states met four times for an intensive exchange of ideas and opinions.
German interests were represented by the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, Ernst Burgbacher.
The breakthrough came in Mexico in May 2012 when the then Mexican president, Felipe
Caldern, assured those attending the 4th T20 meeting that he would work towards
ensuring that tourism would be included in the final declaration of the G20 summit (June
2012 in Mexico). In this he was successful.
Under the heading "Supporting economic stabilisation and the global recovery" the
document adopted by the G20 heads of state and government on 19 June 2012 in Los
Cabos contained the following text in point 25:
"We recognise the role of travel and tourism as a vehicle for job creation, economic growth and development, and, while recognising the
sovereign right of States to control the entry of foreign nationals, we will
work towards developing travel facilitation initiatives in support of job
creation, quality work, poverty reduction and global growth."
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The most important goal of the T20 Initiative had therefore been achieved for the time
being. The 5th T20 meeting of tourism ministers will be held in Russia, where the next
goals of the initiative will be agreed.
In May 2005 the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety (in tandem with and with the financial support of the Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development) signed an agreement with the UNWTO to set up a UNWTO consulting unit in Bonn from 2006 onwards. Initially involved in projects in tourist
destinations affected by the tsunami, this unit now also runs projects in other countries. To
date, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
has provided a total of 1.8 million in funding to support projects conducted by the UNWTO
Consulting Unit on Biodiversity and Tourism (see also Part 4 The role of other federal
ministries in tourism policy: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and
Nuclear Safety).
Part 4 The role of other federal ministries in tourism policy
Federal Foreign Office (Auswrtiges Amt, (AA))
Each year some 50 million German citizens take a trip abroad, going outside of Germany for over 10 days on average. Quite a few of these tourists get into difficulties abroad often through no fault of their own. Embassies, consulates and honorary consulates in
over 200 countries then provide the necessary consular assistance.
The Federal Foreign Office assumes an active role particularly in the event of serious
crises abroad which affect German citizens, such as the Costa Concordia disaster off
the Italian coast or during the political and military unrest in Syria. Through a crisis
management group, which sometimes also involves the German Travel Association
(DRV), the Federal Foreign Office coordinates the assistance the Federal Government
provides to the affected German citizens in consultation with the EU partners. The travel
and security information provided by the Federal Foreign Office, and the travel warnings
it sometimes issues, give travellers comprehensive, up-to-date information about the
country of destination and draw their attention to particularities and security risks
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specific to the country. The information is updated several times daily where necessary
and can be accessed at www.diplo.de.
The interrelation between tourism and foreign policy has become particularly apparent
since the "Arab Spring". Revolutionary unrest in the Arab region caused a significant
downturn in the local tourism sector in 2011, the pain of which was particularly felt in
countries like Egypt and Tunisia where tourism is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for a significant share of the labour market. The number of visitors rose again in
2012 but has not yet reached pre-revolution levels, a fact which can also be attributed to
lack of investment in tourism infrastructure. As part of its transformation partnerships,
Germany is therefore making every effort to support these countries, with the focus on
establishing democratic institutions, support for more rule of law, the promotion of
cultural dialogue and economic and social stabilisation, particularly through support for
vocational training and employment. The Federal Foreign Office coordinates these
measures in close collaboration with other government departments. Recovering the
trust of tourists while increasing the quality of tourism services are the most important
tasks in this respect. As part of these activities, the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology - working in tandem with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development and the Federal Foreign Office - has established transformation
teams headed by retired Minister Hirche that provide consultants to support the Egyptian and Tunisian government in developing market-economy structures. In Tunisia, in
particular, support in the field of tourism will be a priority area of the transformation
teams. The transformation teams commenced work in Tunisia at the end of 2012.
In Tunisia, German engagement centres on the improvement of training and education

standards and the integration of businesses into vocational training, for example. An
international tourism conference was held in Tunisia in November 2012 as part of the
employment pact with Tunisia which is funded by the Federal Foreign Office. A partnership project with the Egyptian tourism industry aims to promote innovative and sustainable tourism that is more environmentally friendly, and safeguard employment in the
Egyptian tourism industry. In this way, through the medium of tourism Germany is
supporting sustainable development and strengthening existing relations with the
regions affected.
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In order to also facilitate travel for foreign visitors to Germany from countries subject to
visa requirements, temporary Schengen visas are issued. This entitles tourists to travel
freely without border controls in 26 European states. It also cuts red tape for tourists
travelling on package deals involving trips to several countries as tourists need only
apply for one visa that will be valid for all countries. Added to this, many German
consular posts allow travel agencies to directly submit visa application documents for
groups of tourists. This is an exception to the otherwise mandatory requirement for
individuals to appear in person before the consular post when applying for a visa, a
requirement which many visa applicants find to be burdensome.
The Federal Foreign Office has outsourced the acceptance of visa applications to
private service providers in a number of countries, including Russia and China - markets
which are particularly relevant for the German tourism industry. This is to be further
extended to other countries including India and the Ukraine - in 2013. The notification
of the applicants remains the sovereign task of the consular posts. By outsourcing nonsovereign steps in the visa application process, Germany is generally waiving the
requirement that individuals need to present themselves at the consulate/embassy in
person. This makes it considerably easier for the individual to apply for a visa, which is
likely to further increase the appeal of Germany as a tourist destination for visitors from
all over the world.
The activities of the Federal Foreign Office in the area of foreign cultural and education
policy and Germany-based communication also touch on the area of tourism in many
different ways, as the Federal Government uses these activities to promote a positive
and realistic image of Germany abroad and advertise Germany as a centre for business, science and innovation. The Federal Foreign Office regularly analyses the image
of Germany abroad. In recent years international surveys have always ranked Germany
among the top countries, such as the "Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index" (2012:
Germany occupied 2nd place among 50 assessed countries for the third time in succession) and in the "BBC World Service Country Ratings Poll" (2012: ranked 2 among
17 countries). With its many partners, programmes and events, the Federal Foreign
Office directly reaches out to people abroad, arouses interest in Germany and in doing
so promotes tourism to the country. For example, the Goethe-Institute promotes interest
in the German language and in Germany by offering language courses and a diverse
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cultural programme at 149 institutes worldwide. With the innovative "Germany Year"
format, the Federal Foreign Office works closely with the business community, the
Goethe Institute and other institutions to convey a comprehensive image of Germany in
selected partnering countries, with a multi-facetted series of events delivering an
attractive mix of information and entertainment directly on site for the broader - and
particularly younger - public. The "Germany Year" project was hosted in five cities in
India from the end of 2011 to the start of 2013, while "Germany Year" in Russia
(2012/2013) was opened in Moscow in June 2012. Brazil will be a partner country from
May 2013 to June 2014.
The Federal Government promotes cultural tourism through international cultural policy,
and as the third biggest contributor to UNESCO it is also particularly active in the world
heritage programme. Germany became a member of the UNESCO World Heritage
Committee again in 2012 and actively supports potential and listed UNESCO world
heritage sites in Germany and throughout the world. Up to now 37 German cities have
been designated world heritage sites. World heritage status has become a brand that
attracts large numbers of tourists while also standing for sustainable development. To
this end, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee adopted a "World Heritage and
Sustainable Tourism" programme in June 2012. Germany was instrumental in the
development of this programme.
At the policy level the European Commission coordinates projects in the field of tourism
to enhance the competitiveness of the tourism industry in the EU, promote regional
developments and create a common identity. For example, as part of the EU Strategy
for the Danube Region there are numerous plans to boost tourism in the regions
concerned, including Germany. These plans include the development of a "Danube
Travel" web portal, a "Culture Routes Destination Danube" flagship project, reactivating
and extending the "Danube office" network with continuing training programmes in the
tourism industry, and the implementation of the "Danube Hike" EU project.
There are also plans to raise public awareness of the Baltic Sea region as a tourist
destination, which was one of Germany's priorities during its presidency of the Baltic
Sea Council from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. Together with the other members of the
Baltic Sea Council, work is concentrated on modernising the south east Baltic Sea area,
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improving the interconnectedness of the Russian region of Kaliningrad with neighbouring regions, and promoting the tourism potential of this region. The German state of
Mecklenburg Western Pommerania is the priority area coordinator for tourism within the
EU Baltic Sea Strategy and coordinates joint efforts of the neighbouring states to better
develop and market the Baltic Sea as a destination for sustainable tourism at the
international level.
The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)
The work of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media is
important for maintaining and developing the cultural landscape of Germany, while also
strengthening cultural tourism on the long term. Each year millions of people from both
Germany and abroad visit the museums, cultural institutions, national historical buildings, parks, gardens and other facilities that are promoted by the Federal Government
Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
Generally speaking all the cultural institutions of national importance that are promoted
by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media are also particular
tourist magnets. These include the 15 museums of the Prussian Cultural Heritage
Foundation in Berlin, the Allied Museum, the German-Russian Museum in BerlinKarlshorst, the German Historical Museum Foundation and the Berlin Jewish Museum
Foundation in Berlin, the History Centre of the Federal Republic of Germany Foundation
in Bonn, the Hambach Castle Foundation, the Foundation for the Memorial to the
Murdered Jews of Europe (rows of stellae), the Topography of Terror Foundation, the
"Remembrance and Future" society, sponsor of the House of the Wannsee Conference,
the Foundation for Remembering German Resistance in Berlin and the five memorials
to politicians: the Otto-von-Bismarck Foundation in Friedrichsruh near Hamburg, the
German President Theodor-Heuss Centre Foundation in Stuttgart, the German Chancellor Adenauer Centre Foundation in Rhndorf near Bonn, the German President
Friedrich-Ebert Memorial Foundation in Heidelberg, and the Federal Chancellor Willy
Brandt Foundation in Berlin.
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The New Museum on the Museum Island, which opened in 2009, and the Pergamon
Museum alone drew over 2.1 million visitors in 2012. With the foundation for the Berlin
Palace/Humboldt Forum laid in June 2013, this will create a novel cultural and educational environment coupled with the extra-European collections of Berlin state museums
in the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the Berlin Central and Regional Library
and the Humboldt University. The Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palace will be a cuttingedge centre for art, culture and science.
The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media is actively involved
in the restoration and renovation of historical buildings and cultural monuments that are
among the outstanding cultural, political, historical, architectural, urban or scientific
landmarks of the country or that are central to the cultural or historical development of
the German cultural landscape. Between 1950 and 2012 roughly 342 million in funding
was provided through the "National Cultural Monuments of Value" programme to over
600 cultural monuments, including many UNESCO world heritage sites in Germany.
The programme has set aside some 9 million to fund cultural monuments of national
importance in 2013. Ever since 2002, the "Vlklinger Htte" world heritage site has
received special funding each year, totalling roughly 31.7 million to date. Furthermore,
the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media has provided funding
of around 125 million for a wide range of projects nationwide within the framework of
four special programmes for the conservation of historical monuments. These specific
projects focus on urgent building maintenance and safeguarding measures and the
maintenance of monuments of national importance or monuments central to cultural
heritage. Further to this, of the 100 million appropriated in the second economic
stimulus package to the renovation of cultural institutions 23.47 million were channelled into 27 projects for the maintenance of cultural monuments of national value.
The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media places particular
emphasis on the maintenance and renovation of cultural "flagships" in the new Lnder.
The Foundation for Prussian Palaces and Gardens runs and maintains more than 30
museum palaces, some 300 historical buildings and facilities and around 730 hectares
of historical gardens in Berlin and Brandenburg, thereby making it one of the biggest
cultural institutions in Germany. The palaces and gardens have enjoyed UNESCO world
heritage status since 1990. Given its great appeal, the Potsdam-Berlin cultural land...
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scape attracts over 5 million visitors each year. In "2012: the Year of Frederick", the
major anniversary event celebrating "300 Years of Frederick the Great" in the New
Palace in Potsdam was a particular cultural tourism highlight. In addition, the parks and
palaces of the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wrlitz, the Prince Pckler Parks in Bad
Muskau and Branitz, the Luther memorials in Wittenberg-Eisleben, the Francke Foundations in Halle, the Dresden Hygiene Museum and the Goethe and Schiller Centres in
Weimar are among the outstanding cultural centres in the new Lnder. According to a
recent survey of the German National Tourist Board, the Bauhaus in Dessau and
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach rank among the top 100 most popular sites visited by
foreign tourists. Receiving over one million visitors each year the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund is the most visited museum in the north of Germany. The
OZEANEUM, which is affiliated with the museum, won the "European Museum of the
Year" award in 2010.
2017 heralds the 500th anniversary of Luther nailing the Ninety-Five Theses to the door
of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg. Apart from the religious implications, the Reformation this triggered also resulted in a wide range of social, political and cultural
developments that have left their mark all over the world. The role of this cultural and
historical event is of national importance, which is why the Federal Government has
decided to take an active role in preparing and organising the event alongside the
churches, the Lnder, municipalities and civil society organisations. The Federal
Government therefore complies with the expectations of Parliament for the Federal
Government to become adequately involved in the celebrations, which were expressed
in the interparty motion, "The Year of Reformation in 2017 An Event of Global Importance" (printed paper 17/6465). With the cabinet decision of 20 February 2011, the
Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media was assigned responsibility for co-ordinating the measures of the Federal Government that are geared towards
preparing and holding Reformation celebrations. Within Germany, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media specifically supports marketing for the
Luther decade, which is preparing the celebration, and the Reformation celebration
itself, and also consults with the German National Tourist Board to support marketing
efforts abroad. The journey to the Reformation cities, particularly those in Saxony,
Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia - the heart of the Reformation - will take visitors from
Germany and abroad to authentic places and therefore to cultural assets of the highest
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quality in the country. Nowhere else can the story of Luther and the Reformation be so
vividly experienced as here.
In 2011, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media set up a
funding programme and published funding principles (www.kulturstaatsminister.de).
Working together with the Lnder, the aim is to make investments to be able to adequately present the authentic Reformation cities to the large number of visitors expected. Furthermore, support is to be lent nationwide to attractive cultural projects that
recall our Reformation heritage. The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture
and the Media appropriated 5 million to this end in the budget in both 2011 and 2013.
Provided that parliamentary approval is granted, the Federal Government will make
every effort to make this amount available each year through to 2017. A list of projects
that have already received funding is available at www.kulturstaatsminister.de.
Broadcasting licence fees for the hotel and accommodation sector
Responsibility for the organisation of the national broadcasting system including the
regulation of the financing of public broadcasters lies with the Lnder. With the 15th
Interstate Broadcasting Amendment Treaty (Rundfunknderungsstaatsvertrag, RStV)
in 2010, the Lnder agreed to change from the broadcasting fee model that was linked
to an actual broadcasting receiver to a broadcasting contribution model that is linked to
a household, not a receiver. The new Interstate Broadcasting Contribution Treaty
(Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag, RBStV) replaced the Interstate Treaty on Broadcasting
Licence Fees (Rundfunkgebhrenstaatsvertrag) with effect from 1 January 2013. Since
then a broadcasting fee is in place which must be paid by every household and every
business operation, which also means every hotel.
With the decision to opt for a contribution model that is not linked to a broadcasting
receiver, the distinction between the basic fee and the television fee no longer applies,
nor does the special levy charged on novel kinds of radio broadcast receivers (particularly Web-enabled PCs).
A full broadcasting contribution is 17.98 per month, and is therefore the same as the
previous broadcasting fee (total basic fee and television fee).
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The owner of each business establishment must pay a broadcasting contribution which
is based on a scale that depends on the number of employees (apart from the owner).
Relief is provided for small operations in that establishments with a maximum of eight
employees need only pay the reduced broadcasting contribution rate (1/3 of the full
rate). According to the justification provided in the 15th Interstate Broadcasting Amendment Treaty, approximately 70 percent of business operations in Germany fall into this
category. The full contribution applies to establishments with up to 19 employees.
According to the reasoning behind the legislative act, given that approximately 90
percent of all business establishments in Germany fall into one of the two categories,
only one contribution at most must be paid by the vast majority of (small) operations.
In addition to the compulsory contribution payment for the business establishment, the
owner must also pay a third of the broadcasting contribution for each hotel room and
guest room in the establishment and for every holiday apartment from the second room
unit. The reasons given for this are the above-average intensive use of radio and
television in establishments with regular guest turnover, which is generally part of the
business model in the tourism industry.
Associations in the hospitality sector are critical of the additional burden put on businesses with 20 employees or more and the system of charging broadcasting fees for
hotel rooms in addition to the basic contribution rate as this appears contrary to the new
system that is based on a model that is not linked to a broadcasting receiver.
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Germany acts as a role model for many other countries with its policy for people with
disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides other
key pointers of how our country can develop and grow participation and equal rights.
The aim of the Convention is an inclusive society in which people with and without
disabilities play, learn, work and spend free time together in all areas of life from the
very outset.
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Following intense dialogue with civil society, and with associations for people with
disabilities in particular, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs developed the
Federal Government National Action Plan to implement the Convention. Containing
over 200 measures from all areas of life and policy fields, this action plan will trigger a
development towards inclusion and firmly anchor the equal treatment of people with
disabilities at all levels of society and in all policy fields. The action plan has a ten-year
life span and will be systematically refined and improved upon.
For many individuals with a disability, barrier-free accessibility to tourism amenities is a

key prerequisite to be able to avail of recreational and leisure services. Therefore in the
National Action Plan the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the key
players in the tourism industry are cognisant of this need and deliver upon it.
In the period from 2009 to 2012 the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs funded
a project to strengthen target agreements based on the Act on the Equal Treatment of
People with Disabilities (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz, BGG). By agreeing targets
and objectives with business enterprises, recognised associations for people with
disabilities can agree specific rules for the creation of an accessible environment that
match people's needs and enable flexible and reasonable solutions.
In the field of tourism, for instance, standards have been developed for accessible
natural environments. The definition of minimum requirements for accessible natural
environments (basic requirements and guidelines) led to the conclusion of a framework
target agreement with the Association of German Nature Parks at an event to mark
Accessible Tourism Day on 8 March 2012 at the ITB travel trade show in Berlin.
Further to this, a target agreement concerning accessible tourism on camping sites was
agreed for the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition, basic requirements were
developed for accessible access to museums, as was a guide to accessibility in cultural
heritage conservation and an initial training and continuing education module for
certified nature guides.
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Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Research and strategy development for a changing tourism industry
Climate change, altered demographics and new social needs, such as in the area of
medical tourism, mean that we need to refine our concepts of travel and recreation and
develop new models and service offerings. In addition to being involved in the training
and continuing education of professionals, the Federal Ministry of Education and
Research (BMBF) therefore also lends support to research projects that are aimed at
developing innovative and sustainable tourism solutions in response to climate change
and new challenges in society.
For example, the "RADOST" project (regional strategies of adaptation for the German
Baltic coast) involves the development of tourism strategies for the German Baltic coast
that factor in the expected consequences of climate change. The impact of climate
change on tourism and beach management is examined in order to build on the results,
develop and trial adaptation measures, and implement them in model projects. RADOST is part of the KLIMZUG funding project aimed at "making climate change sustainable in the regions".
The "KUNTIKUM" project (climate trends and sustainable tourism development in

coastal and mid-range mountain regions) pursues a similar goal. Trends in climate
change and tourism were analysed in two model regions the North Sea and the Black
Forest and strategies developed for new products and infrastructures along with
capacity building for making decisions on climate-related issues.
A geographical information system (GIS) for area and investment planning in winter
sport regions was developed under the "GIS-KliSchee" project. Local snow potential
was recorded on an area-by-area basis and environmental data and satellite images
were used to identify possible change scenarios from climate model calculations. The
aim of the project is to adapt winter sport tourism in German mid-range mountain areas
to climate change.
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In its third phase, the "GLOWA-Danube" collaborative project focussed on the comprehensive analysis of the future availability of water in the Upper Danube under the
conditions of global change. This analysis comprised the role of water for the tourism
industry both in terms of its importance as a pull factor and as a product to be used in
the tourism infrastructure and suprastructure.
In light of demographic change, senior citizens will become an increasingly important

key group for the tourism industry. Within the framework of the "Barrier-free Tourism ACCESS" collaborative project (1/2/2012 31/1/2015) the Federal Ministry of Education
and Research is therefore supporting the development of tourism strategies for senior
citizens and individuals with specific impairments. The focus is on the development and
large-scale provision of a guidance system to help older individuals with restricted
mobility plan accessible routes and navigate their way through buildings and towns
using barrier-free, accessible amenities. This thereby provides senior citizens with
pathways and routing in public areas that are tailored to meet their individual needs and
capabilities, and aims to promote their participation in society, and particularly in travel.
Furthermore, the project also involves the definition of standards that are developed to
create a "seal of quality" which can be awarded to participating towns and cities.
Senior citizens often consider large infrastructures, such as train stations and airports,
to be a barrier given their size and complexity. By combining new services with innovative technology, the "Personalised Assistance System for Mobility in Old Age" (PASS,
1/2/2012 31/7/2014) seeks to overcome this obstacle. The aim is for a navigation
system geared to the elderly to cover the entire mobility chain from the individual's front
door to the travel destination, including within airports and train stations.
The "Holidays for Seniors with Individual Services" project (URAiS, 1/7/2012
30/6/2015) seeks to ensure that older individuals with a health impairment can also
enjoy an individual travel experience. With the help of a harmonised approach that
combines modern technology and services, barriers to travel are broken down. The
service chain maps out the entire trip from the planning stage to the moment the
individual returns home, with the focus on the train journey and the hotel with an
affiliated network of medical, care, therapeutic and cultural service providers.
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The internationalisation of medical services has given rise to a new market for medical
and health tourism services. The aims of the "Health TourMobil" project (1/7/2008
30/9/2011) were to initiate cross-sector collaboration between medical and tourism
facilities in the state of Saarland and to create an appropriate information platform.
Using training and continuing education to secure a skilled worker base for the
tourism industry
Within the framework of the "JOBSTARTER - Training for the Future" training structure
programme, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has supported dual
vocational training in the field of tourism and leisure on a sustained basis in recent
years. In the five application rounds that were held, a total of 25 regional projects that
focussed on creating and filling training places and improving regional training structures in this industry were included in the funding programme. The JOBSTARTER
projects provided particular support to small and medium-sized undertakings in the
tourism and leisure industry in the provision of training places and properly filling such
places with individuals whose profiles matched the training specifications. With image
promotion campaigns and information services for schools, JOBSTARTER projects
have made a key contribution to increasing the appeal of occupations requiring formal
training in the tourism and hospitality sector. This has also helped stem the tide of outmigration of young people particularly in the east German states. Further to this,
regional undertakings have become sensitised to the need to secure qualified staff by
implementing their own training efforts so that they can continue to be successful on the
growing tourism and leisure industry market.
The collaborative project by the name of "Q2 Training Initiative for Service Quality!"
has developed an innovative teaching approach for trainees in professions in the
tourism industry. The outstanding feature of this approach is that it uses digital media
with Web 2.0 tools so that trainees can learn together, communicate with one another
and access jointly created learning material despite the fact that the trainees are based
in different locations. In this way the aim is to enhance the service skills and customer
focus of the trainees and improve these skills on the long term.
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In the "EMAG" project focussing on the development and trialling of a media strategy to
acquire organisational skills in interlinked VET places of learning, a curricular approach
to acquiring organisational and media skills is developed in close collaboration with a
vocational school and various training centres in the tourism and hospitality sector. The
approach to be developed will contribute to the better interaction between schools and
businesses providing training, promote the media skills of teachers, pupils, trainers and
trainees, and support the systematic integration of media education processes in school
life and in everyday professional life in the tourism industry.
Increasing importance is also being attached to the role of continuing training and
lifelong learning in the tourism sector. For this reason part of the collaborative project
entitled "Open Universities in Schleswig Holstein: Move Your Career Forward with
Online Learning" (LINAVO) is dedicated to the field of tourism management. Under this
project, the University of Flensburg and the Flensburg, Kiel, Lbeck and West Coast
Universities of Applied Sciences have joined forces to make innovative study courses
and continuing education programmes for in-service and lifelong learning available
across the region. Within this context the West Coast University of Applied Sciences will
develop and trial a Master's degree course in tourism management.
"Training made in Germany" has an excellent reputation worldwide. This is also true for
the tourism and leisure sector. For this reason the Federal Ministry of Education and
Research also supports the international export of vocational training programs, training
course content and professional standards from this industry. In this way, within the
framework of a collaborative project agreed in June 2012 the "International Office
Manager" and "International Travel & Tourism Manager" training occupations were
exported to China where they were introduced following specific modifications to cater
to the culture and country.
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Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV)
Agritourism
In recent years agritourism has undergone a positive development overall to become a

significant tourism segment in Germany, and an important additional source of income
for many farming operations. As an economic factor, agritourism makes a direct
contribution to securing the livelihood of farms, trade and crafts, catering and many
other service providers in the rural area. Moreover, agritourism has created new income
options and jobs in villages and will continue to do so in the future.
According to a 2010/11 study into on-farm/rural tourism conducted on behalf of the

Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, around 4.5 million
people living in Germany, or 6.4 percent of the population, took one or more on-farm
holidays (including short breaks) in Germany between May 2010 and May 2011. A total
of 5.1 million in-Germany farm holidays (2.8 million of which were short breaks) were
reported, with around 24.4 million holiday overnight stays. Board and lodging brought in
revenues of around 1.1 billion, which translates to a six percent share in the domestic
travel market. However it is estimated that this market offers far higher potential, which
can be tapped by developing new products and service offerings, better quality management, attracting new target groups and adopting more focussed marketing strategies.
As part of the "Joint Task for the Improvement of Agricultural Structures and Coastal
Protection" (GAK), the Federal Government and the Lnder support agricultural operations in schemes to diversify their income in the field of agritourism/on-farm holidays.
Here, funding is provided to construct, purchase or modernise guest rooms, holiday
apartments or buildings with beds for up to 25 guests, and for investment in social,
domestic and municipal services.
In addition, the GAK principles for the promotion of integrated rural development which
were introduced in 2004 created the framework to also fund rural infrastructure
measures to tap tourism development potential, introduce cover crops and similar
appealing tourism facilities in keeping with the surrounding countryside, build alliances
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between farmers and other partners in the tourism sector, and implement building
schemes to convert farming operations into accommodation or catering facilities as part
of rural development strategies.
Furthermore, on the basis of Council Regulation No. 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005

(EAFRD Regulation) rural tourism measures outside of agriculture can also be funded
within the framework of the development programmes of the Member States. These
include small-scale infrastructures (e.g. information centres), the signposting of tourist
sites, recreational infrastructures (e.g. access routes), small-capacity accommodation
and the development and marketing of tourism services relating to rural tourism.
Apart from the promotion of investment in rural tourism within the framework of the GAK
programme, as an additional initiative the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and
Consumer Protection also supports the work of the Federal Association for On-Farm
Holidays and Rural Tourism in Germany (BAG). Located in Berlin, the BAG acts as the
central advocacy group and point of contact for operations offering on-farm and rural
vacations and is primarily responsible for quality assurance, marketing and continuing
training measures and for safeguarding the political interests of rural tourism. Since 1
January 2007, the BAG and the regional Land associations affiliated with the BAG are
also responsible for quality assessment and categorisation in the area of "on-farm and
rural holidays", a task that was previously the jurisdiction of the German Tourism
Association (DTV).
Transparency system for restaurants ("hygiene ranking system")
With its decision of 15 September 2011 the Conference of Ministers for Consumer
Protection voted in favour of the standardised, national introduction of a transparency
system for restaurants and other undertakings handling food ("hygiene ranking system"). The aim was to make the results of official controls of foodstuffs, conducted as
part of business audits, visible to the public as consumer information. The Conference
of Economics Ministers rejected a system to this effect with the decision of 7 June 2011
as it believes that there are no hygiene shortcomings in general and that the pillory-like
action that a hygiene ranking system might imply could threaten the existence of
business undertakings, particularly given that timely follow-up checks are not possible.
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Transparency for consumers was further increased with the amendment to the Consumer Information Act (Verbraucherinformationsgesetz, (VIG)) and the new section 40,
paragraph 1a of the Food and Feed Code (Lebens- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, LFGB)
that entered into force on 1 September 2012. This amendment further facilitates access
to information from official bodies that is relevant to consumers; legal violations, such as
a breach of hygiene regulations, must be made public in future if a fine of 350 or over
is expected.
The Federal Government does not plan any further initiatives geared towards a hygiene
ranking system.
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
Reduced VAT rates
VAT on lodging services

The Act to Accelerate Economic Growth (Wachstumsbeschleunigungsgesetz) introduced tax-related measures on 1 January 2010 to overcome the effects of the global
financial and economic crisis and provide fresh impetus for a stable, dynamic upturn.
Specific support was lent to the tourism industry with the reduction of the rate of valueadded tax for lodging services and camp site rental from 19 percent to 7 percent. The
entire tourism industry benefits from the annual tax relief of close to one billion euros.
This measure will strengthen the competitiveness of the German hotel industry compared with other European countries and thereby enhance Germany's position as a
tourism location.
Passenger shipping and river cruises

Due to a transitional arrangement, passenger transportation by ship was subject to the
lower rate of VAT in the past without any other conditions being applied. Now that this
transitional arrangement was phased out on 31 December 2011, the reduced VAT rate
only applies for short-distance passenger transportation. In particular, this change
affects river cruises as they are now subject to the general 19 percent rate of VAT.
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Eliminating exemptions of this kind makes it fiscally possible to have a lower normal rate
of VAT that is more competitive on the European market. This attractive normal rate will
benefit all branches of the economy, including the tourism industry.
Aviation tax
Departures from German airports have been subject to an aviation tax since 1 January
2011. The tax does not apply to the air transport of cargo. The aim behind the aviation
tax was to also include air transport into the taxation system on forms of transport so
that air transport would also make a contribution to fiscal consolidation, while also
providing incentive for more environmentally friendly behaviour. When air transport was
included in the emissions trading system on 1 January 2012, the three rates of taxation,
which are scaled according to the distance of the destination from the German departure airport, were temporarily lowered for 2012. With the "Second Act to Amend the
Energy and Electricity Tax Act and to Amend the Aviation Tax Act" (Zweites Gesetz zur
nderung des Energiesteuer- und des Stromsteuergesetzes sowie zur nderung des
Luftverkehrsteuergesetzes) of 8 November 2012, the rates of taxation were permanently set to the level agreed in 2012 from 2013 onwards, amounting to 7.50, 23.43 and
42.18 depending on the distance travelled. In keeping with statutory requirements, the
implications of the aviation tax for the aviation sector have been assessed in a report
which the Federal Ministry of Finance submitted to the German Bundestag. The report
found that despite the aviation tax the number of passengers increased nominally by
around nine million between 2010 and 2011. However, the introduction of the aviation
tax did result in a fall in demand by around two million passengers in 2011. Further to
this, German aviation companies were subject to additional costs of 100 million which
could not be passed on to passengers. The Federal Ministry of Finance commissioned
an updated advisory opinion on the aforementioned report. This assumes that the
aviation tax generally no longer curbed air transport growth in Germany on the whole in
2012.
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Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ)
Protection of children against sexual exploitation in the tourism industry (see

also input from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Ministry of
Justice)
On 27 September 2011, the Federal Government adopted the Second Action Plan on
the Protection of Children and Adolescents from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, which
contains an overall approach to protect children and young people from any form of
sexual abuse and exploitation. As part of accompanying monitoring, a joint Federal/Lnder task force continuously checks, examines and improves upon the goals of the
action plan. The work of one of the four sub-groups set up focuses on "trade with
children, tourism".
In tandem with Switzerland and Austria, Germany launched a trilateral campaign

against child sex tourism in autumn 2010. A video clip called "Witness" is the central
element of the campaign and communicates the message that the sexual abuse of
children can be prevented if tourists do not look away. A police address which tourists
can contact is displayed at the end of the video clip. An international convention on the
campaign was held in Berlin in January 2013 where it was decided to extend the
campaign to other European partner countries.
The tourism industry is an important partner in combating the sexual exploitation of

children and adolescents. The Federal Government supports the implementation of the
"Code of Conduct to Protect Children against Sexual Exploitation in the Tourism
Industry", which was agreed between the German Travel Association and ECPAT
(association for the protection of children against sexual exploitation). Key parts of the
code include training workers in the tourism industry in the countries of origin and
destination and raising awareness among travellers.
The Federal Government also supports the training of prospective workers in the
tourism industry in order to give them the tools to play an active role in protecting minors
from sexual exploitation in the tourism industry.
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Family holidays and family holiday centres
Tourism should be open to all segments of the population, which is why the provision of
holiday services for families, children and young people is a central political objective.
Great importance is attached to family holidays, as they help strengthen the bond
between family members and allow families to both relax and stay fit and healthy.
Being able to offer families the opportunity to spend a vacation together in a familyfriendly setting at an affordable price is therefore the key objective of the over 100 nonprofit family holiday centres in Germany. Family holiday centres offer affordable accommodation in line with family needs in the form of holiday apartments, holiday homes
or apartments of different sizes. Non-profit family holiday centres focus in particular on
large families, single parents, families with family members who are disabled or in need
of care, and low-income families.
Recreation, joie de vivre and relaxation are the
central elements of the services they provide. Furthermore, the concept of family
holiday centres also involves presenting ways to lead a more social or healthy life,
which is why special services to improve parenting and relationship skills and strengthen ethical values are just as much part of family holiday centres as the fostering of
practical skills with regard to health, the household, food and nutrition and the use of
multimedia.
From the point of view of salutogenesis (the origin of human health and the preservation
of health and fitness), non-profit family recreation services make a key contribution to
strengthening the health skills and resources of families. In linking relaxation and
recreation with a broad educational portfolio they address families in their entirety, and
take the complexities of reality into account. With children, parents and often grandparents together as a household, family holidays make it possible to strengthen parenting
and family skills on a sustainable basis.
The Federal Government funds the construction and installation of family holiday
centres and the provision of facilities under the condition that the Land and the provider
also match the funding amounts. 1.8 million are appropriated in the federal budget
each year for this purpose. Some Lnder provide individual grants to help low-income
families have a vacation in a family holiday centre. From a tourism and economic
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perspective this is also important for the region in which the family holiday centre is
located as it helps to generate or safeguard jobs in the area and develop a tourism
infrastructure. In its catalogue, "Holidaying with the Family", the Federal Association for
Family Holidays and Recreation provides information about the services offered by the
non-profit family holiday centres (www.bag-familienerholung.de).
Federal Ministry of Health (BMG)
German spas and health resorts are of real economic significance. According to the
German Association of Health Spas, this sector of the economy reported revenues of
over 30 billion. At present, roughly 400,000 individuals are directly and indirectly
employed in German spas and baths, with spas and health resorts recently reporting an
increase in the number of visitors and overnight stays. In 2012 they reported roughly
22.4 million visitors (up from 20.1 million in 2010) and close to 110.4 million overnight
stays (up from 102.9 million in 2010).
With their overarching approach comprising primary, secondary and tertiary prevention,
the spas and health resorts are able to offer specific spa treatments under sections 23
and 24 of Book V of the Social Code to combat both health risks and diseases that are
already manifest. At the spa, additional health risks outside the original reason for the
stay at the health spa can be identified and preventive measures can be introduced.
Further to this, under section 20, paragraph 1 of Book V of the Social Code, health
resorts can offer primary preventive measures aimed at improving the general state of
health of the individuals and strengthening their health to prevent illness occurring in the
first place. Generally speaking primary preventive measures should be offered at the
insured's place of residence so that the individual can practice healthy behaviour in
everyday life. However in order to also extend primary preventative services to individuals who are unable to regularly take part in weekly courses for business or family
reasons, the health insurance funds can also offer compact courses at the spa facility or
holiday destination. Under the provisions of the Federal Government's bill for an Act to
Promote Prevention (Gesetz zur Frderung der Prvention), individuals insured under
the statutory health insurance system will be entitled to receive an allowance to contrib...
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ute to the additional costs that they incur in connection with this service - as is the case
when individuals use out-patient prevention services at recognised spa facilities.
Provisions are also made to raise the ceiling for the daily health insurance allowance
from 13 at present to 16 for insured persons and from 21 to 25 for chronically ill
infants. Given the professional approach taken at the health spas and the well qualified
staff, top-quality prevention services can be guaranteed.
Statutory health insurance (SHI) spending on prevention and rehabilitation services has
risen again slightly.
Statutory health insurance spending on prevention and

rehabilitation services
Spending in billion euros/year
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012 prelim.
Total spending
thereof:
148.00 153.93 160.94 170.78 175.99 179.61
184.52
Toal services
thereof:
138.68 144.43 150.90 160.40 164.96 168.74
173.64
Prevention and rehabilitation

Out-patient treatment at health resort
services
In-patient treatment at health resort
Health resort treatments for mothers/ fathers
Follow-up rehabilitations
2.34
0.09
2.45
2.48
0.09
0.38
0.26
1.60
0.39
0.30
1.67
2.42
0.07
2.36
0.06
0.36
0.29
1.68
0.34
0.28
1.68
0.35
0.33
1.69
2.39
0.09
2.44
0.08
0.39
0.34
1.67
0.36
0.32
1.68
0.06
Source: BMG
As a result of the SHI Act to Structure Medical Care (GKV-Versorgungsstrukturgesetz),

section 11 paragraph 6 of Book V of the Social Code was redefined on 1 January 2012
to give health insurance funds the latitude to extend optional benefits. This also applies
to services under section 23, paragraph 2 of Book V of the Social Code. In this respect,
the current regulation according to which health insurance funds can provide insured
persons with an allowance of 13, and 21 for chronically ill children, to contribute to the
remaining costs incurred for necessary out-patient prevention services can be extended
further by the health insurance funds per optional benefit.
Within the area of health-related self help, no direct funding measures are provided for
spa facilities or holiday locations. However, health-centric services do indirectly promote
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tourism to strengthen the self-help potential of chronically ill individuals and people with
a disability. When it comes to accessible travel, the National Coordination Body for
Tourism for All (NatKo) is the central point of contact for service providers and affected
individuals. The Federal Ministry of Health funds selected NatKo projects where the
focus is on prevention and health-related self-help. In the period between 2009 and
2013, projects touched on topics such as travel opportunities for people in need of care,
prevention and health promotion with accessible leisure and recreation facilities in
towns, municipalities and regions, and awareness enhancement, advisory and information activities at trade exhibitions in the area of barrier-free, accessible travel. Natko
received roughly 433,500 in support during this period (2009-2013).
Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
Protection of children against sexual exploitation in the tourism industry (see

also input from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women
and Youth and the Federal Ministry of Justice)
Generally speaking if sexual offences are committed abroad the local police authority is
responsible for ending the offences and prosecuting sex offenders. However the
German law enforcement authorities can lead investigations against German offenders
who sexually abuse children abroad and bring charges against them.
The Federal Government is aware that many travellers do not know whom they should
turn to abroad if they suspect a child is being sexually abused. Many are reluctant to go
to police stations abroad as they are afraid of having to speak a foreign language and
are worried that the police officers might not understand them. They do not know the
customs in the host country and are uncertain of how the police officers might react.
Therefore, in addition to the police services available in the host country the Federal
Criminal Police Office (BKA) has set up an e-mail address where individuals can report
suspected sexual abuse perpetrated by Germans abroad (stopp-missbrauch@bka.de).
This address is indicated on the flyers in the "Don't Look Away" campaign a trilateral
campaign to protect children supported by Germany, Austria and Switzerland and in
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the video clip ("Little Souls - Big Danger") created for this purpose. In addition to this email address a contact form has also been developed which can be accessed on the
website of the Federal Criminal Police Office (www.bka.de) under "Brgerkontakt" or
"Informationen zum Kindersextourismus". The form can be easily retrieved by entering
appropriate search terms in search engines. In the new version of the flyer and video,
reference will only be made to the contact form so that the e-mail address can be
phased out over the long term. The contact form has the advantage that it "guides" the
individual reporting the incident through the various sections so that important information is not forgotten.
The Federal Criminal Police Office ensures that the report is processed immediately by
the competent law enforcement authority in Germany and abroad. In individual cases,
responsibility for processing the report in Germany will lie with the Federal Criminal
Police Office.
Once a report is made, the top priorities in processing the case are as follows, depending on the individual case, and with the involvement and under the responsibility of the
local competent law enforcement authorities:
Put an end to the case of abuse that might still be ongoing
Introduce necessary measures to identify the offender and victim, and get the local
competent law enforcement authorities to secure the necessary evidence, or
Ensure the further clarification of facts to pursue additional means of investigation.
The Crime Prevention Unit of the Police Forces of the Federation and the Lnder
(ProPK) also uses a mix of different media to disseminate information and raise awareness for the issue. For example, in collaboration with associations and NGOs it hands
out the "Little Souls Big Danger" flyer which is distributed across the country and also
distributed through cooperation partners in the tourism industry. The aim is to sensitise
holidaymakers to the problem of child prostitution and the terrible consequences it has
for the victims and to get the holidaymakers on board as partners in combating child sex
abuse. The attention of potential offenders is also brought to the fact that such acts are
a punishable offence even if committed abroad.
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In addition to information about the flyer mentioned above, the website of the ProPK
(www.polizei-beratung.de/themen-und-tipps/sexualdelikte/sextourismus.html)
also
contains practical tips for travellers as to how they can help without putting themselves
at risk. The website also contains a link to the report form of the Federal Criminal Police
Office described above.
Registration Act (Meldegesetz)
Up to now, the Federal Government's Framework Act on Registration (Melderechtsrahmengesetz) and the 16 registration acts of the Lnder have contained different regulations as to the registration obligations of accommodation facilities when an individual
checks in or when an individual stays overnight in tents, caravans, mobile homes or
watercraft.
Following the reform of the federal system of government in 2006, the Federal Government was granted exclusive legislative power for the registration system in accordance
with Article 73, paragraph 1, number 3 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). This was
upheld in the current legislative term with the Act on the Further Development of the
Registration System (Gesetz zur Fortentwicklung des Meldewesens), the central
element of which is the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz). For the first time
ever, uniform registration regulations that apply to all citizens nationwide will apply when
the Federal Registration Act enters into force on 1 May 2015.
The Federal Registration Act contains standardised regulations for these special
registration obligations in accommodation establishments and simplifies the procedure
for dealing with registration forms in this area.
With effect from 1 May 2015, hotel registration forms will no longer need to be filled in
by hand as guests receiving accommodation will only need to sign the special registration form by hand in the future. This change takes into consideration the widespread
practice in the hotel industry whereby a member of staff often already fills in the hotel
registration form using data supplied to the accommodation establishment beforehand.
At the same time, by having guests sign the form this ensures compliance with regulations under European law. The storage period for such registration forms at accommo...
Page 94
dation establishments is also set at one year for the entire country. Overall, these
measures make the registration process considerably easier for the guest and significantly lightens the bureaucratic burden for the tourist accommodation sector.
Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ)
Directive on Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours
Council Directive of 13 June 1990 on Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package
Tours (90/314/EEC) contains consumer protection regulations with regard to package
systems. It is transposed into German law in sections 651a ff. of the German Civil Code
(BGB).
For some time, the European Commission has been examining which regulations in the
directive have proved to be effective and where there is a need for modification. The
planned revision of the directive seeks to enhance consumer protection, particularly with
regard to Internet-based bookings, and to make it easier to conclude cross-border
agreements. The Federal Government is generally open to amendments provided these
do not mean that Member States will need to lift time-tested protection mechanisms and
that allowances are made for the various areas of risk of the parties involved. As the
current directive is based on the principle of minimum harmonisation, German law
contains additional - and sometimes more extensive - regulations that guarantee
adequate protection. Therefore some of the problems raised by the European Commission do not occur in German travel legislation. Having first announced that it would
present a proposal for the revision of the Directive on Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours at the end of 2012, the European Commission then announced in a press release on 28 January 2013 that it was examining three particular
options: (i) to update the current directive; (ii) to keep the current directive as it stands;
(iii) to repeal the directive. Following further consultation the European Commission will
decide on the next steps in late spring. The Federal Government will closely monitor
and keep a watch on further developments in this area.
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Arbitration and mediation in air transport
In the coalition agreement, the Federal Government made it its goal to regulate arbitration services for consumers in civil aviation by law. In Germany the Federal Aviation
Office (LBA) is responsible for dealing with complaints from air passengers. However
the Federal Aviation Office only acts in a commercial supervisor capacity, and has
recourse, in particular, to the enforcement tools defined under the law relating to
regulatory offences. Therefore the proceeding before the Federal Aviation Office does
not constitute arbitration of civil claims, with which it is often confused.
The aviation industry entertained significant reservations with regard to the arbitration
and mediation services in general. On the basis of the right to effective justice (Article 2,
paragraph 1 of the Basic Law) in connection with the principle of a state governed by
the rule of law (Article 20, paragraph 3 of the Basic Law), air carriers may not be subject
to the rulings of an arbitration board by law without the possibility of recourse to legal
action. Rather, the path to the settlement of disputes by state courts must remain open.
Therefore the fundamental acceptance of a mediation body by all parties involved is
essential if the system is to function properly. Following intensive talks with the aviation
industry, the Federal Government managed to agree on an arbitration process that is
accepted by the airlines and before which they are willing to present themselves
voluntarily.
On 21 March 2013, the German Bundestag adopted the bill to introduce arbitration
services in air transport in the second and third reading. According to this bill, in future
every air passenger with payment claims of up to 5,000 can appeal to an arbitration
board, regardless of whether the issue in question refers to overbooking, flight cancellation, delays or damage to baggage and hand luggage. The act is initially based on
voluntary mediation by arbitration boards organised by the air carriers under private law.
If these boards meet the requirements set down by law - particularly with regard to the
impartiality of the board and the fairness of the proceedings - they can also be recognised by the Federal Government. Undertakings that do not voluntarily take part in the
mediation procedure are handed over to an official mediation body at the Federal Office
of Justice. Barring cases of abuse, the procedure is free for the air passenger.
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Time-sharing
Time-share agreements are quite common among German holiday-makers. Under this
scheme, the customer pays for the right to use a holiday apartment or a hotel for a
certain period each year. Time and again this area has been the domain of untrustworthy operators who managed to persuade tourists during their holiday to enter into
dubious agreements. The new time-share regulations (sections 481ff. of the German
Civil Code) which entered into force on 23 February 2011 and implemented the Timeshare Directive of 14 January 2009 (2008/122/EC) are geared towards cracking down
on these business methods and better protecting holiday-makers. The new regulations
apply irrespective of whether the contract was agreed in Germany or in another EU
Member State. Better information obligations ensure greater transparency and create a
more reliable framework with which the consumer can make informed decisions. The
existing right of withdrawal was extended to contracts with a duration of one year or
more. Within the cooling-off period, down payments cannot be demanded of the
consumer and the consumer does not incur any additional costs should he/she decide
to withdraw from the contract. The protective measures were also extended to new
contractual formats in order to prevent attempts to circumvent the rules and to also
incorporate new holiday models, such as travel discount clubs, for example.
Measures for the protection of children against sexual exploitation in the tourism
industry (see also input from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior
Citizens, Women and Youth and the Federal Ministry of the Interior)
In Germany the protection of children and adolescents against sexual abuse and
protection against the distribution, purchase and possession of child and adolescent
pornography is fully guaranteed under criminal law. German criminal law shall however
also apply, regardless of the applicable law of the country in which the offence was
committed, if a German commits abroad offences under sections 176 to 176b and
section 182 of the German Penal Code (sexual abuse of children and adolescents),
(section 5, number 8, point (b) of the German Penal Code (StGB)), i.e. also in the case
of the sexual exploitation of children in the tourism industry. Further to this, German
criminal law shall also apply to offences committed abroad involving the dissemination
of pornographic material (sections 184a, 184b paragraph 1 to 3, section 184c paragraph
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1 to 3 of the German Penal Code), regardless of the applicable law of the country in
which the offence was committed (section 6, number 6 of the German Penal Code).
German legislation is therefore essentially in line with the requirements of Directive

2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on Combating the Sexual
Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography, and replacing
Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JI, and the Council of Europe Convention on the
Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse which the Federal
Republic of Germany signed on 25 October 2007. For Germany the two international
legal instruments only result in minor measures which need to be implemented. These
measures will be accommodated in legislation that is currently in the preparation stage.
Following this, the Council of Europe Convention is also to be ratified.
Cross-border collaboration in law enforcement is particularly essential if the offenders

are no longer in the country where the offence was committed. To ensure effective law
enforcement in such situations, the offenders can be extradited or the country of
residence of the offender can assume responsibility for criminal prosecution. In recent
years, extradition between Member States of the European Union has been made
considerably easier with the Council Framework Decision on the European arrest
warrant (2002/584/JHA). In relation to other countries the priority must also be to
increase the efficiency of criminal prosecution while upholding the rights of the accused
individual. The Federal Government lends support to this process by advocating that
countries sign and implement international conventions and by offering assistance with
regard to practical implementation.
Ash cloud in the air space
The two volcanic eruptions in Iceland in 2010 and 2011 resulted in the closure of
airspace and the non-operation of flights. Thousands of flights had to be cancelled or
redirected because the volcanic ash threatened to damage plane engines and other
aeroplane parts that are central to flight safety. Passenger safety was always of top
priority in all the measures implemented by the Federal Government.
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The rights of passengers whose flights were cancelled or delayed as a result of the ash
cloud are regulated in the EC Regulation on Passenger Rights (Regulation (EC)
261/2004). In the case of package systems, attention must also be paid to the provisions under travel law outlined in the German Civil Code (sections 651a ff.).
If a flight does not operate as a result of airspace closure, passengers can choose to
have their tickets refunded or be rescheduled for free to a later flight. Passengers are
not entitled to additional compensation, which would normally be the case if a flight
were cancelled, as the closure of airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud is deemed an
"extraordinary circumstance" for which the air carrier cannot be held responsible.
According to the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (judgement of
31 January 2013, (C-12/11)) the occurrence of "extraordinary circumstances" does not
release air carriers from their obligation to provide care to air passengers.
Furthermore, in the case of tourist travel contracts (package holidays) the tour operator
must bear the additional costs that are incurred as a result of the non-operation of a
flight, such as additional overnight stays or a more expensive means of repatriating the
passengers. Depending on the circumstances of each individual case, either the rights
of the traveller to fulfilment of service (section 651a, paragraph 1 of the German Civil
Code)
or
the
right
to
the
remedy
of
defects
(section 651c, paragraph 2 of the German Civil Code) constitute the basis of legal
claims. Tour operators can release themselves from the obligation to provide corrective
action with effect for the future if they terminate the travel contract as defined in section
651j of the German Civil Code. In this case, the additional costs incurred for repatriation
must
be
borne
equally
(50
50)
by
both
parties
(section 651j, paragraph 2, sentence 2 of the German Civil Code).
Following the eruption of Eyjafjallajkull in Iceland, the Federal Ministry of Economics

and Technology invited the industry affected to attend a crisis summit on 19 April 2010.
At this summit meeting it was decided to set up an "Ash Cloud Task Force" which in
addition to taking stock of the damage also formulated lessons for similar, future
emergency situations (more information is available at www.bmwi.de ).
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GEMA rate reform
GEMA, the society for musical performance and mechanical reproduction rights,
announced a rate reform in the area of music events that was set to enter into force on
1 April 2013. The new rates are the subject of several actions brought before the board
of
arbitration
under
the
Copyright
Administration
Law
(Urheber-
rechtswahrnehmungsgesetz) and examinations conducted by the Authority for Government Supervision of Collecting Societies at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office.
The event organisers and associations concerned complain that the rates do not take
adequate account of the differences regarding the particular event formats (discos,
music bars, street festivals, town festivals etc.) and result in disproportionate increases
in remuneration. GEMA and the Federal Association of Music Event Organisers (BVMV)
settled on an interim solution for 2013: with effect from 1 January 2013 the existing fees
in the area of music events, which are the focus of the rate negotiations, will be increased by 5 percent, and the rate for clubs and discos will be increased by a further 10
percent from 1 April 2013 onwards. As a result of this solution all events, including
those in clubs, discos, music bars, hotels and restaurants, variety entertainment shows
and street and town festivals, can be planned for 2013 on the basis of the increased old
fees.
Better protection for ship passengers
EU Regulation 392/2009 on the liability of carriers of passengers by sea in the event of

accidents took effect across the EU on 31 December 2012. The Regulation is based on
the provisions of the Athens Convention of 1974 relating to the Carriage of Passengers
and Their Luggage by Sea as amended by the Protocol of 2002 (the Athens Convention
of 2002) - which has not yet entered into force under international law - and on the
Guidelines for the Implementation of the Athens Convention of 2002 which were
adopted by the IMO in 2006. The aim is to introduce standardised rules regarding the
liability and insurance of carriers for the death or personal injury of a passenger, and for
the loss or damage to luggage and vehicles, for carriages by sea with reference to an
EU Member State.
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National law on the carriage of passengers on seagoing vessels and ships for inland
waterways, which continues to apply outside the scope of this regulation, will be aligned
with this regulation following the Act to Reform German Merchant Shipping Law (Gesetz
zur Reform des Seehandelsrechts) which was passed by the German Bundestag on 13
December 2012 and adopted by the Bundesrat. Under the new provisions, the liability of
the carrier for the death or personal injury of a passenger will no longer be capped at
around 164,000 - as is the case in current German law. Instead the ceiling will be
increased to around 468,000. In addition a no-fault liability, capped at around
292,000, is introduced for personal injury stemming from a shipping incident, such as a
collision. Further to this, the applicable maximum liability amounts for the loss, damage
or delayed surrender of cabin luggage, vehicles or other baggage are also increased
significantly.
Complementing this, work is currently underway on a bill to prepare for the ratification of
the Athens Convention of 2002. The same is true of a convention on the limitation of
liability in inland navigation which was agreed in Strasbourg in September 2012 at a
diplomatic conference of the Central Commission for Rhine navigation and is to replace
the
Strasbourg
Convention
of
1988
on
the
Limitation
of
Liability in Inland Navigation (CLNI) which Germany has ratified. The 2012 Convention
seeks in particular to raise the amounts to which the owners of inland water vessels can
limit their liability for personal injury and material damage, which also includes personal
injury to passengers on inland water vessels. Under the provisions of the new Convention, the applicable maximum liability amount is based on the carriage capacity of the
ship (around 118,000 should be set per permitted passenger), but amounts at least to
2 million special drawing rights (equivalent to roughly 2.3 million).
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
(BMU)
Environmental framework conditions of tourism policy
Sustainable tourism in harmony with nature and the countryside that is geared towards
a sustainable management approach, the efficient use of resources and climate
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protection offers an excellent framework to contribute to the long-term value add of a

region, and thereby to the region's growth and prosperity. At the same time, sustainable
tourism also meets the stricter demands customers make in terms of quality, and helps
businesses cope with competition. Sustainability, comfort, enjoyment and health are the
key ingredients of sustainable tourism products and the hallmark of a modern, successful tourism industry.
Within the framework of research and model projects, the aim of the Federal Ministry for
the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is to step up the
development of a sustainable tourism industry in Germany and, in an effort to promote
sustainable destination management, also share good experiences with the primary
destinations of German tourists abroad.
Strengthening sustainable tourism development in Germany
Strengthening a sustainable tourism industry in rural areas is a key priority for the
Federal Ministry for the Environment. With roughly 130 national natural environments
(national parks, biosphere reserves and nature parks) that account for around one third
of the area of the country, Germany ticks all the boxes when it comes to offering tourists
experiences in a natural setting with a high recreational and leisure value. To this end,
support has been lent to the creation of an umbrella brand name for national natural
environments (led by EUROPARC Germany) in recent years. A study conducted by the
University of Wrzburg on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment found that
the 14 German national parks alone receive approximately 50.9 million visitors each
year. This generates gross revenue of close to 2.1 billion, and creates or safeguards
some 70,000 jobs in the regions. A similar study into Germany's 16 biosphere reserves
is currently underway.
Within the framework of the "National Natural Environments" umbrella brand name, a
model partnership project was implemented between conservation areas and businesses in the various regions. This project saw the involvement of some 20 areas with over
800 businesses as partners of the national natural environments. The businesses must
meet quality criteria with regard to environmental quality, regionality and service, identify
with the goals of the conservation areas and supply information to their customers.
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The "Erlebnis Grnes Band" environmental project which ended in 2010 and was
implemented in three model regions (Elbe-Altmark-Wendland, Harz, Thringer
Wald/Schiefergebirge/Frankenwald) made a key contribution to the preservation of
biodiversity in Germany's longest habitat network along the former border between east
and west Germany. At the same time, the history and culture of the regions have been
brought to life for locals and tourists alike, bookable tourism products have been
developed and marketed following an appropriate model, and the tourism infrastructure
(cycle routes and hiking trails, construction of the Torfhaus national park visitors' centre)
has been improved. Furthermore, it was also possible to develop the area to the north
of the Harz mountains (nrdliches Harzvorland) as a tourist destination, and the
Eichsfeld-Werratal region also joined the project without any funding. With the creation
of regional and supraregional networks of associations and societies, this project
provides a model for transregional marketing strategies in the German tourism industry.
At the initiative of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, the Federal Ministry for the
Environment is holding a "sustainable tourism regions" competition in tandem with the
German Tourism Association (DTV) in 2012/2013. This aims to reward particularly
active tourism regions in Germany for their commitment to sustainable tourism and to
increase the visibility of these regions, creating an incentive to further improve the
quality of domestic tourism.
Accepting the challenges of climate protection and the transformation of the

energy system
By 2020 the Federal Government intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at

least 40 percent compared to emission levels in 1990. With its decisions in summer
2011 to accelerate the transformation of the energy sector to a system based on
renewable energy (Germany's Energiewende), the Federal Government laid the
foundation for a modern, safe, climate-friendly and affordable supply of energy in
Germany. These efforts focus on measures to enhance energy efficiency and develop
renewable energy. The tourism industry also offers considerable potential to make a
substantial contribution to making the Energiewende happen.
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The Federal Ministry for the Environment has been lending support to the "DEHOGA"
energy-saving campaign for over five years. As part of this campaign, measures have
been developed that are specifically geared towards reducing energy consumption in
the hospitality sector. An energy-savings calculation tool gives businesses an exact
overview of the cost-cutting effect, with close to 6,000 businesses in the hospitality
sector taking part in the programme by 2012. Since 2011, to improve environmental
quality businesses also have the option of undergoing a voluntary, three-tier
(gold/silver/bronze) "environmental audit", which takes waste generation, water consumption and foodstuffs into account in addition to energy consumption. Any businesses meeting the requirements for the "gold standard" can also apply for certification
under the "Viabono" environmental brand scheme also initiated by the Federal Ministry
for the Environment.
Depending on the calculation method used, tourism is responsible worldwide for

between 5 and 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, with around three quarters of
global carbon emissions from the tourism trade coming from transportation and 20
percent from the accommodation sector. This clearly underlines the importance of the
choice of transportation when holidaying. In collaboration with the Transport Club of
Germany (VCD), the Federal Ministry for the Environment therefore organised a
"ViaDeutschland" project in 2011/2012 that illustrates alternatives for an environmentally friendly holiday with interesting stopovers, without having to deal with the stress of
flying or traffic jams. The "Destination Nature" (Fahrtziel Natur) initiative of the Transport
Club of Germany (VCD), Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND), Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) and Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) promotes sustainable
mobility while also raising the profile of the national natural environments as attractive
holiday destinations.
The low emission zones set up by the Lnder help improve air quality in inner cities.
However they contain different exceptional arrangements, such as how the ban on
traffic is organised or transitional periods until the introduction of the low emission
zones. To ensure the nationwide harmonisation of exceptional arrangements, such as
those for older coaches, in September 2011 the higher immission control authorities of
the country agreed on guidelines for the standardisation of exceptional arrangements
concerning the ban on traffic in low emission zones. Talks are currently underway
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between the Federal Government and the Lnder centring on the mutual recognition of
special exemptions once such exemptions have been granted. Nevertheless the coach
travel sector is also called upon to invest, above all, in the purchase of new buses with
strict environmental standards. Funding is available from the KfW environmental
programme for the procurement of buses and coaches that meet the EEV/EURO VI
standard.
Maintaining biodiversity conserving the natural assets of the tourism industry
An unspoilt landscape and environment are one of the most important economic bases
for tourism, with over a half of all holiday-makers indicating this as a central criterion in
their choice of holiday destination (F.U.R. 2011). Therefore it is a matter of special
importance to the tourism industry and the Federal Government to maintain these
natural assets, defined as a key obligation in the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD). The National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS, 2007) also sets out goals for the
tourism sector - for example at least 10 percent of tourism service providers in Germany
must meet environmental criteria by 2020. The introduction of the "Viabono" environmental umbrella brand created a key prerequisite for delivering on these goals.
Further to this, the Federal Ministry for the Environment is committed to ensuring that
the "maintenance of biological diversity" is more deeply ingrained in the activities of the
tourism sector. To this end, support was given to regional expert workshops as a
platform for dialogue and collaboration to help businesses network and share best
practices. Support was also lent to a dialogue forum of the WWF and the tourism
industry to incorporate biodiversity objectives into the development of tourism services.
International cooperation
With the financial support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the "Advisory Centre for
Tourism and Biodiversity" of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Bonn (see
also Part 3.4 - Collaboration on tourism policy within the framework of the UNTWO) ran
practice-oriented projects in Thailand and Indonesia that focussed on the sustainable
development of popular travel destinations on the basis of the "CBD Guidelines for
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Biodiversity and Tourism Development" (2004), and on energy conservation and energy
efficiency. Within the framework of these projects, the centre developed bookable
tourism products for third countries. Examples include nature trails in mangrove reserves, retrofitting fishing boots for excursions with tourists or the involvement of tourists
in revitalising a coral reef. Current projects support the development of a sustainable
tourism industry in conservation areas in the Caucasus, knowledge-sharing between
German biosphere reserves and tourism managers in third countries, and the development of sustainable tourism services along bird migration routes.
The Alpine Convention and its "tourism" protocol is another example of international
collaboration and the promotion of all three dimensions of sustainability in the tourism
industry. In 2011 the XI Alpine Conference agreed on sustainable tourism development
in the Alps as the topic for the Fourth Report on the State of the Alps. The report was
approved by the boards of the Alpine Convention in November 2012 and is due to be
released in June 2013. It identifies fourteen environmental, social, cultural and economic challenges facing sustainable tourism in the Alps, and takes a cross-sectoral approach when detailing the advantages afforded by sustainable tourism and stronger
innovation, management and cooperation among stakeholders in Alpine tourism and
other sectors. As a measure to implement the findings, the Federal and Bavarian
Ministers for the Environment and Ministers for the Economy will invite German Alpine
communities, tourism associations, tourism businesses and NGOs to the national
convention on "sustainable tourism - benefiting from the experience of the Alps" in July
2013. The event seeks to strengthen dialogue between policy-makers, tourism managers, tourism businesses and NGOs with regard to "sustainability in the tourism industry".
The overall objective of such dialogue is to identify specific pointers and possible
approaches to more sustainability in tourist destinations and among key stakeholders in
this sector.
Aircraft are the main mode of transport for long-haul journeys. Therefore the reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions from air transport also ties in with the goals of a tourism
industry that is sustainable throughout the world. Air transport has been included in EU
emissions trading since 2012. The EU had adopted the directive amendment to this
effect as early as 2008 due to the failure of the International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) to reach a decision on a binding measure for limiting emissions in international
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Page 106
air transport after years of negotiation. Inclusion in EU emissions trading affects the
CO2 emissions of all aircraft arriving at or departing from EU airports, irrespective of the
origin of the air carriers. Provisions to check the efficiency of the measure at the end of
2014 are also included in the directive. The Federal Government remains committed to
working towards binding, global climate protection action in international air transport
and is actively involved in ICAO negotiations. With the next ICAO convention scheduled
for autumn 2013, the primary objective is to agree on a binding schedule for global
action so that effective climate protection measures can be adopted at the ICAO
convention to be held afterwards in 2016. If global action for climate protection in air
transport is adopted, the EU Directive already makes provisions for potential adjustments. In order to facilitate such an international agreement, the EU has developed a
legal instrument which, for the period of one year, removes flights into and out of
Europe from the sanctions of the EU emissions trading system. The old EU ETS
legislation will be restored in full automatically if the ICAO does not reach an adequate
decision by autumn 2013.
Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS)
The role of transport infrastructure
Tourism and mobility are inextricably linked. Absent mobility, tourism is inconceivable.
Therefore mobility also generates growth and employment in the tourism industry.
According to the "Forecast for nationwide transport links in 2025" transport performance
in holiday transportation is set to increase by 41 percent between 2004 and 2025, and
by 26 percent in leisure transportation. An efficient and optimally linked transport
infrastructure is therefore an important factor in the development of the tourism industry.
In the "2011-2015 capital investment framework for the federal transport infrastructure"
(IRP), the Federal Government has made provisions for investments of around 50
billion, 20.6 billion of which are to be allotted to the federal railway infrastructure, 24.8
billion invested in federal roads and 4.6 billion in federal waterways. Around 65 percent
of these investment amounts are to be used for replacement and maintenance
measures. With the first and second programmes to accelerate the construction of
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infrastructure (Infrastrukturbeschleunigungsprogramme I + II) the Federal Government

provided additional investment amounts totalling 1.75 billion in the 2012 and 2013
budgets.
Air transportation
In recent years air transport has evolved as an engine for the global tourism industry,
with the number of passengers from large German commercial airports increasing from
around 120 million in 2001 to roughly 180 million in 2011. Despite the aviation tax levied
since 1 January 2011 and the higher price of aviation fuel, the number of passengers in
Germany in 2011 had risen by 4.8 percent compared with 2010.
The goal of the Federal Government is to remain competitive in the international arena
on the long term by having a well-operating airport infrastructure that is in line with
market needs. The Federal Government is committed to better aligning the regional
interests of airports in Germany and the role they play with regard to individual mobility
and Germany's location as a business centre, while also taking environmental concerns
into account. In the context of wider debate about aircraft noise and the operation of
airports, the Federal Government is actively seeking a revision of the 2009 airport
scheme.
Within the framework of the EU initiative to create a single European sky (SES) and with
technological support from SESAR (initiative of the European Commission and the
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) to standardise, harmonise and synchronise services within the framework of European air transport
management), the overall efficiency of air traffic management in Europe will be improved.
Strengthening rail transport operations
According to preliminary statistics, between 2002 and 2011 transportation services in

passenger rail transport increased by 20.5 percent, with a 30.5 percent increase
reported in short-distance transport and an 8.8 percent increase in long-distance
transport. In terms of transportation and rail policy the objectives of the rail reform
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continue to be (i) more transportation by rail; (ii) limiting the budgetary burden; (iii) more
competition; (iv) greater efficiency. Above all, more competition should also directly
benefit rail passengers and strengthen the role of the railways when competing with
other modes of transport.
Regulatory law is being revised with the aim of enhancing efficiency, improving access
to the railway infrastructure and strengthening competition. At the international level, the
priority must be to remain on course towards further liberalisation. The European rail
network has been open for cross-border passenger transport since 1 January 2010. The
goal remains to be the complete liberalisation of the EU rail market.
Thanks to federal funding provided through the economic stimulus programmes, over
300 million were invested in the renovation of over 2,000 train stations between 2009
and 2011. In 2012/2013, the Federal Government will direct a further 100 million into
the modernisation of 264 train stations across the country, constituting a key contribution to improving service and customer satisfaction.
Attractive local public transport services
As an environmentally-friendly mode of transport in Germany, local public transportation

is a vital service of general interest, is an essential means of guaranteeing mobility both
in urban conurbations and in rural areas, and also plays a central role for the tourism
industry. Responsibility for planning, structuring, organising and funding local public
transportation, including short-distance passenger transport by rail, lies with the Lnder
and municipalities. Nevertheless, under the Regionalisation Act (Regionalisierungsgesetz) the Federal Government is making roughly 7.191 billion in funding
available to the Lnder for investment in local public transportation and short-distance
passenger transport by rail. Regionalisation funds undergo an annual adjustment of 1.5
percent. Further to this, according to the Unbundling Act (Entflechtungsgesetz) and in
line with the reform of the federal system of government, the Lnder receive compensation payments to the value of around 1.336 billion each year from the federal
government to improve transport conditions in the municipalities (local public transportation and construction of municipal roads). Negotiations on the amount of federal funding
to be provided after 2013 are currently underway between the Federal Government and
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the Lnder. In accordance with the funding program as defined in section 6, paragraph
1 of the Municipal Transport Financing Law (Gemeindeverkehrsfinanzierungsgesetz)
further payments of 332.6 million annually can go towards co-funding local public rail
transport routes in densely populated areas.
Coach transport
Travelling by coach is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to

individual motorised travel. Even with average utilisation rates, the level of fuel consumption and carbon emissions per passenger drops significantly compared to passenger car usage. Coach travel must meet strict safety and transportation quality standards, prompting a pan-European improvement in the regulatory conditions for tour
coach operators.
The new EU Regulation 1073/2009 on common rules for access to the international
market for coach and bus services has been in effect since 4 December 2011. In the
interests of clarity and simplification, previously separate rules are incorporated into one
single regulation and the link between the rules concerning access to the market and to
the profession is reinforced. Furthermore under the amended EU Regulation 561/2006
bus drivers can once again organise their driving times and break and rest periods in
international road transport in such a way that they can be on the road for up to 12
days. However, additional requirements are in place as regards equipment on buses
(only with digital tachograph with effect from 1 January 2014) and as regards driving by
night.
New EU Regulation 1071/2009 establishing common rules concerning the conditions to

be complied with to pursue the occupation of road transport operator, which also applies
since 4 December 2011, requires Member States to create a register of undertakings
which, in its final stage, is to be interconnected throughout the Community. Certain data
in this register will be publicly accessible and contribute to indicating the quality of the
road transport operators.
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Liberalisation of the long-distance coach transport system
The large-scale liberalisation of the long-distance coach transport system has been in
effect since 1 January 2013. The new regulation enables competition between coaches
and trains for long-distance travel, which can result in an additional environmentally
friendly and financially attractive alternative mode of transport for the traveller.
Cycling transport and cycle tourism
In Germany the portfolio of services for cycle tourism has been continuously improved
upon in recent years, with the result that more than 200 primarily regional tourist cycle
routes criss-cross the country. The twelve long-distance cycle routes that make up the
"German Cycle Network" are the backbone of cycle tourism in Germany and are part of
the European cycle route network (EuroVelo).
As part of the joint Federal-Lnder model project on the "Development and marketing of
the D3/R1 bicycle route across federal Lnder", from 2008 to 2012 the Federal Ministry
of Economics and Technology and the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and
Urban Development each provided 300,000 for the coordination, planning and marketing of this long-distance cycle route, which was also supported and successfully trialled
by the Lnder concerned and the German Tourism Association (DTV). The Federal
Government remains fully committed to the expansion and development of the "German
Cycle Network", particularly with a view to collaboration across federal Lnder in the
future.
Some 19,000 km of separate bicycle paths have been built on 39,700 km of federal
roads to date. The construction and maintenance of bicycle routes on federal roads has
been a separate budget item since 2002, with a total of 877 million invested in this
area nationwide up to now. Federal funding also goes towards financing the development and maintenance of service roads for cycling along the federal waterways, with 3
million provided for this in 2012.
Within the context of model projects financed by funds to implement the National
Bicycle Traffic Plan (Nationaler Radverkehrsplan (NRVP)), bicycle path signs were
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improved and efforts to communicate information about long-distance bicycle routes

were stepped up in various regions. Furthermore it was also possible to gather information with regard to the development of inoperative railways for cycle tourism, the
possibility of taking bicycles on public transport, and bicycle rental systems in tourist
regions, evaluate this information and make it available to the interested public (such as
through the NRVP portal www.nrvp.de). With the 2020 National Bicycle Traffic Plan
(NRVP 2020) which entered into force on 1 January 2013, the Federal Government
continues to pursue the goal of promoting cycling in Germany as part of a modern
transportation and mobility policy. "Cycle tourism" is one of the nine action areas of the
2020 National Bicycle Traffic Plan, and an important one. The Federal Government will
remain committed to the expansion and development of the German Cycle Network and
promote the standardisation of data on bicycle route infrastructure and the internetworking of bicycle route planners across the country. Further to this, the Federal Government will assess and evaluate the success of measures to promote cycle tourism and
provide specific information about possible funding and examples of best practice for
service facilities in the area of cycle tourism.
Aquatic tourism
With a network of federal and national waterways extending over 10,000 km, numerous
inland lakes, and close to 23,000 km2 of maritime waterways on the North Sea and
Baltic Sea, Germany offers a host of attractive options for water-based leisure activities.
The expert reports commissioned by the Federal Government for the Bundestag
initiative to "Improve the infrastructure and marketing for aquatic tourism in Germany"
(Bundestag printed paper 16/10593) ultimately aim to eliminate the current competition
for funding for urgently needed transportation measures and measures on bodies of
water solely used for aquatic tourism - competition that drags down development. At a
time of public budget constraints, the experts are of the opinion that the introduction of
user funding on a pro rata basis would provide financial leeway for the maintenance and
moderate improvement of the aquatic tourism network.
Provided that the affected Lnder and water sports societies are prepared to assume
some responsibility for aquatic tourism and give thought with the government to alterna...
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tive types of business for aquatic tourism, the Federal Government will initiate more
detailed studies for applicable regions. The introduction of a boat vignette is not planned
in this 17th legislative period.
The "charter certification" which has been in place since 2004 and allows individuals following sound instruction - to drive motor boots on certain, suitable inland waterways
without a licence has proved to be an outstanding success. Some 22,000 charter
passengers have tried out boat sports for the first time through the charter certification
system, and got to know people and places from the water. In 2012 more routes were
added to the selected waterways, which included routes in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg
Western Pommerania and parts of the Saar and Lahn rivers.
To make water sports and aquatic tourism even more appealing, the Federal Ministry of
Transport, Building and Urban Development - with due regard to safety and ease of
navigation - raised the limit for which a licence is not needed to drive a pleasure boat to
11.03 Kw (15 PS).
Furthermore, to increase the incentive for individuals to earn a licence to operate a

motor boat, since 1 May 2012 new examination requirements apply to the motor boat
licence examinations for inland waterways and maritime waters, which also include
environmental aspects.
Environmental and climate protection in the transport sector
Tourist destinations in particular are often located in environmentally sensitive areas.

For this reason it is of central importance to make tourism and mobility as climatefriendly and low-polluting as possible.
Electric mobility
Given their quiet engines and lack of emissions, electric vehicles are an ideal means of
transport particularly for scenic tourist regions, protecting both humans and the environment. Electric bicycles (known as "pedelecs"), in particular, are becoming an
increasingly common fixture of mobility services in many rural holiday destinations in
Germany, such as for bicycle tourism in hilly and mountainous regions. And in the
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context of new, flexible mobility strategies electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly attractive option for city tourists. This trend also benefits from the fact that many
visitors do not travel to the destination in their own car and are therefore more willing to
try out new forms of mobility, such as electric rental cars (also within the framework of
car sharing) or electric bicycles at their holiday destination. Tourism and electric mobility
can therefore grow and evolve together in many areas, giving rise to new business
models.
The Federal Government is promoting electric mobility particularly within the framework
of the government programme put in place in 2011. An important instrument in such
promotion efforts is the creation of what is known as an "electric mobility stage" essentially large-scale demonstration projects. The Federal Government has selected
four electric mobility staging regions. Here individuals get to experience electric mobility
hands on in the true sense of the word. New electric mobility strategies in the context of
tourism are also trialled in these regions. This comprehensive approach is complemented by funding programs already put in place by various government ministries, such as
the "Electric Mobility Model Regions" programme of the Federal Ministry of Transport,
Building and Urban Development, the "Renewable and Mobile" programme of the
Federal Ministry for the Environment and the "ICT for Electric Mobility" programme of
the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the Federal Ministry for the
Environment which also support tourism-related projects.
Traffic noise control

The Federal Government continues to set a priority on the control of traffic noise, a fact
which helps maintain and increase the touristic appeal of urban areas and regions.
Remaining committed to the quantitative noise reduction goals of the Second National
Traffic Noise Control Package of 2009 (Nationaler Verkehrslrmschutzpaket II), the
Federal Government seeks to reduce noise pollution in noise hotspots. Benchmarked
against 2008 levels, the aim is to reduce noise pollution from air traffic by 20 percent,
from road traffic and inland waterway traffic by 30 percent in each case, and noise
pollution from rail traffic by 50 percent by 2020.
Since 2007, federal funding totalling 100 million has been provided each year for noise
reduction measures on existing railway tracks of the German federal railways. With the
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change of the timetable in December 2012, the German federal railways introduced a
rail route pricing system with a noise-specific component which is linked to a 50 percent
grant from the Federal Government to retrofit low-noise brake blocks on existing freight
wagons. This grant is capped at 152 million. Further to this, between 2009 and 2011
72 million in funding was provided from the second economic stimulus package to trial
and test innovative noise control measures, which give rise to new noise abatement
methods in sensitive tourist areas. A total of 40 million is also available in 2013 and
2014 for the special railway noise abatement programme which is part of the second
programme to accelerate the construction of infrastructure.
The Federal Government currently makes 50 million available each year for noise
mitigation measures on existing roads of public easement. The corresponding action
levels were reduced in 2010 by an audible 3 dB(A).
In the field of air transport, aeroplanes have already become considerably quieter. The
environmental protection committee of the International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) has adopted a proposal to further tighten the noise standards for new aircraft.
Passive sound insulation for individuals living near airports is improved with the Aircraft
Noise Act (Fluglrmgesetz) which entered into force in 2007. The subdivision into day
and night protection zones facilitates the installation of specific sound insulation for
living rooms and bedrooms. Furthermore, low-noise take-off and approach procedures
are practised at commercial airports.
Improving the safety and the environmental and climate track record of cruise
liners
The Federal Government is actively involved in the international debate as to whether

and how - subject to the conclusion of investigations into the Costa Concordia accident more can be done towards the safety of cruise liners. In ship building this includes
stability issues and functional, targeted approaches. The Federal Government also
places much emphasis on the introduction of a general international obligation to
simulate evacuations on new ships and to optimise evacuation processes on existing
ships. Other points include the further improvement of a code for the safe management
and operation of ships (ISM Code) as the central operative safety element, and calls for
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the international community to play its part in ensuring that an electronic chart display
and information system (ECDIS) can be introduced on the basis of reliable data even for
international waters. The introduction of the ECDIS commenced on 1 July 2012.
Germany also places a priority on the updating of requirements for life-saving equipment in line with the latest technical developments and findings in the field (location of
life jackets, the organisation of disembarkment and the transfer to external rescue units,
or the continued development of alternatives to conventional lifeboats).
Large cruise liners have capacity for up to 5,000 passengers, accordingly produce large
volumes of waste and sewage and emit air pollutants and greenhouse gases. With
regard to oil leaks, wastewater, garbage and air pollution, under the MARPOL Convention special areas or particularly sensitive sea areas (PSSAs) can be declared for cruise
liners in which compliance with higher environmental standards is mandatory. For
example, the use and carriage of heavy-grade oil is banned in the Antarctic. In discussions surrounding the introduction of mandatory regulations for the Arctic (Polar Code),
which is increasingly navigable as a result of melting sea ice in the summer months,
Germany will work towards a similar regulation at meetings with the International
Maritime Organisation (IMO). As cruise liners often frequent ecologically sensitive
areas, it is particularly important that their operation is as climate friendly and ecologically sound as possible. Measures to specifically improve the environmental and climate
track record of cruise liners that go beyond the scope of legal requirements can be
supported within the framework of the environmental investment programme, for
instance, with due regard to funding guidelines. Furthermore, businesses can also make
their commitment to the environment visible by displaying the "Blue angel for ecofriendly ship design" and the "Blue angel for environmentally sound shipping operations"
eco-labels.
UNESCO world heritage sites
Under the program to promote investment in national UNESCO world heritage sites, the
Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development is making roughly 220
million available between 2009 and 2014 for the maintenance and further development
of German UNESCO world heritage sites. These funds can be used to make urgently
needed investment in the conservation of world-class heritage sites, and thereby
maintain or increase their appeal for tourists.
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Urban development assistance and urban heritage conservation
Urban development assistance is the central pillar of the Federal Government's urban
development policy. From 1971 to 2012 inclusive, a total of 14.5 billion was provided
by the Federal Government for the promotion of urban development, with a further
455 million in federal funding made available in 2013. Particularly through the Urban
Heritage Conservation programme, an effective contribution is made in this context to
strengthening historic town centres and city districts of architectural value and of tourism
potential.
Rural Infrastructure Initiative
The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development has brought
together a series of measures within the framework of the Rural Infrastructure Initiative
aimed at strengthening the rural area. As a core element of the initiative the "People
and Success Stories" competition rewards exemplary solutions for a sustainable
infrastructure that contributes to increasing the quality of life in rural areas, boosting
their appeal and future economic strength. This also includes projects that are relevant
to tourism. Furthermore, by investing in the urban infrastructure within the context of
urban development assistance, smaller towns and municipalities assume a stronger role
as an anchor in the region. In many cases the tourism industry also indirectly benefits
from the enhancement and revitalisation of town and village centres and the modernisation of the infrastructure.
Consumer rights in the travel sector
The rights of airline passengers are primarily regulated in international treaties (notably
the Montreal Convention) and Community regulations (in particular Regulation (EC) No.
261/2004 and Regulation (EC) No. 2027/97) - partly defined in greater detail or modified
by the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. If denied boarding due to
overbooking, passengers can choose between having the price of their flight reimbursed, a return flight to the first place of departure, and comparable replacement
carriage as early as possible, or at a later point provided that seats are available. Under
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certain circumstances, passengers are also entitled to assistance, such as meals and
beverages, two free phone calls, faxes or e-mails and wherever necessary hotel
accommodation. Furthermore, passengers are entitled to compensation of between
125 and 600, depending on the distance. Rules to a similar effect apply if a flight is
cancelled. However the right to compensation does not apply if the flight cancellation is
communicated to the passenger in good time (generally at the latest 14 days before the
planned departure date) or the flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances. If
departure is delayed, passengers are also entitled to assistance in the event of a delay
of two to four hours, depending on the distance. In the event of a delay of five hours or
more, passengers can also choose to have their flights reimbursed or to be flown back
to the first point of departure as early as possible. In its ruling of 19 November 2009 (C402/07 and C-432/07), the Court of Justice of the European Union also interpreted the
regulation to the effect that passengers are also entitled to compensation payments in
the event of delayed arrival of three hours or more. The Court of Justice of the European Union confirmed this decision in its judgement of 23 October 2012 (C-581/10 and C629/10). If the flight comprises feeder flights and connecting flights the delay at the final
destination is the delay that applies. However, if the delay is attributable to extraordinary
circumstances, passengers are not entitled to compensation payments. This is also the
case if flights are cancelled or passengers are denied boarding (judgement of the ECJ
of 26 February 2013 (C-11/11)).
On 13 March 2013, the European Commission presented its proposal for a European
Parliament and European Council regulation to amend Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004
and Regulation (EC) No. 2027/97 on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of
passengers and their baggage by air. The proposal concerning passenger rights aims to
resolve any legal uncertainties and - where necessary - add new rights for airline
passengers.
The primary amendments to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 outlined in the proposed
regulation comprise the extension of liability to delayed arrival (wherein the case-law of
the European Court of Justice is to be primarily incorporated), the incorporation of
special regulations for delayed feeder and connecting flights, and an amendment to
entitlements to assistance, which would be limited in some cases (such as in the event
of extraordinary circumstances, which are now defined) while being extended in others.
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Other amendments concern support services (transportation by other modes of

transport). The obligation of airlines to provide information to passengers is extended,
and air carriers are set a period of two months in which they must respond to passenger
complaints. Airports, air carriers and other stakeholders in the transportation chain
should be obliged to create contingency plans. Such obligations are already in place in
Germany, however. Further to this, numerous new duties of the national passenger
rights' enforcement bodies should be defined, some of which could however impinge on
legal protection under civil law (e.g. inspection of contracts).
The primary planned amendments to Regulation No. 2027/97 comprise an increase by

more than 2,000 (2,096 SDR) with regard to advance payment requirements in the
event of a fatality, the introduction of an adjustment procedure and the introduction of
further refined liability regulations to increase liability for equipment for passengers with
disabilities (wheelchairs, walking aids etc.). Thereafter the duties as defined under the
Montreal Convention and Regulation (EC) No. 2027/97 will be subject to the passenger
rights' enforcement system as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004; in particular an
inspection of the contents of agreements (including package travel agreements) by the
national passenger rights' enforcement body should be possible.
The Federal Government generally welcomes a revision of the regulation on flight

passenger rights. The experience gathered since 2005 when the regulation first entered
into force, such as the extraordinary circumstances experienced with the volcanic ash
cloud, and the court decisions since made on the interpretation of the regulation, clearly
indicate that there are several open issues that require clarification. The Federal
Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development informed the German Bundestag of the plans following the prior involvement of the
departments.
The primary aim of the revision must be to clarify the legal questions that arise in the
practical application of the regulation and have resulted in many cases being brought
before the Court of Justice of the European Union. The fair accommodation of conflicting interests between the undertakings and the passengers must be ensured. Furthermore, where necessary and appropriate Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 must be
consistently aligned with the passenger rights regulations of other modes of transport
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and made compatible with the Package Travel Directive and the obligations under
international law as derived from the Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Convention.
Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons
with reduced mobility when travelling by air will continue to protect the rights of passengers. The regulation enables reliable and accessible mobility on the long term for
disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility. This is ensured by panEuropean obligations on air carriers and airports to provide information and assistance.
It is the duty of airports to organise the end-to-end provision of assistance to people with
reduced mobility - from the time of arrival at the airport to the time of departure and vice
versa. During the flight, the air carriers must also provide assistance to the passengers
free of charge.
On 20 March 2013, the European Commission finally issued a communication to the

European
Parliament,
the
Council,
the
European
Economic
and
Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions concerning passenger protection in the
event of airline insolvency (COM(2013) 129 final), which only contains information and
announcements of measures. Before proposing new legislation to protect passengers
against
airline
insolvency,
the
Commission
considers
it
essential to strengthen the licensing oversight of EU air carriers under Regulation

(EC) No. 1008/2008. The examination of the economic performance of an airline is
already part of the licensing procedures defined under Regulation (EC) No. 1008/2008.
According to the European Commission, Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 already offers
an adequate legal framework to support passengers in the event of airline insolvency.
The Federal Government supports the efforts of the European Commission to reduce
the negative impact of airline insolvency by making more effective use of the existing
legal instruments.
Please see the section on the role of the Federal Ministry of Justice for information
about an arbitration board for air transport.
Regulation (EU) No. 1177/2010 concerning the rights of passengers when travelling by
sea and inland waterway has been in effect across Europe since 18 December 2012.
Following similar regulations for air and rail travel, in the event of non-operation or a
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delay passengers on seagoing ships and certain inland water vessels receive compensation which is scaled depending on the length of the delay. Furthermore, the rights of
passengers with a disability or reduced mobility are strengthened. The EU Regulation
requires EU Member States to set up national enforcement bodies to enforce the
regulation as regards passenger services and cruises and to define sanctions for any
infringement of the regulation. This has been implemented by the enactment of the EU
Maritime Passenger Rights Act (EU-Fahrgastrechte-Schifffahrt-Gesetz), which entered
into force on 12 December 2012, and the EU Maritime Passenger Rights Ordinance
(EU-Fahrgastrechte-Schifffahrt-Verordnung), which entered into force on 17 December
2012. Among other things, the EU Maritime Passenger Rights Act designates the
Federal Railway Authority (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt) as the body responsible for the
enforcement of Regulation EU/1177/2012 and regulates the powers this body has.
Furthermore, under the aforementioned law, passengers can also contact a suitable
arbitration board to settle disputes arising from transportation by sea and inland waterway if the partner to the agreement has declared that it is willing to take part in the
arbitration process. With the decision of 26 March 2013 the Arbitration Board for Public
Transport (Schlichtungsstelle fr den ffentlichen Personenverkehr, (sp)) was recognised as a suitable arbitration board by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and
Urban Development and the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer
Protection. Furthermore, the EU Maritime Passenger Rights Ordinance essentially
defines the sanctionable actions and appropriate procedures in the event of an infringement of Regulation (EU) No. 1177/2010.
Finally EU Regulation 181/2011 concerning the rights of passengers in bus and coach
transport has been in effect since 1 March 2013. Following the example of the modes of
transport already mentioned, this regulation strengthens the rights of bus passengers
and gives individuals with a disability or reduced mobility better access to travel by bus
and coach. The regulation primarily applies to passengers travelling with regular
services where the scheduled distance of the service is 250 km or more (long-distance
services). For long-distance services the regulation regulates the rights of passengers in
the event of delays (e.g. the right to information, appropriate assistance, reimbursement
and compensation), the compensation to be paid by carriers in the event of the death or
personal injury of passengers, and in the event of loss or damage to luggage as a result
of an accident, and the obligation to provide certain assistance free of charge to
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individuals with a disability or with reduced mobility. Some of the provisions of the
regulation, however, also apply to regular services with a shorter distance of service
and to occasional services, such as the ban on any discrimination whatsoever based on
the nationality of the passenger as regards contract conditions and tariffs, the nondiscriminatory treatment of individuals with a disability or with reduced mobility, and
compensation in the event of loss or damage to mobility aids. The regulation also
requires regular service carriers to set up a system to process complaints and requires
Member States to appoint an enforcement body.
The national accompanying law was adopted by the Federal Government on 30

January 2013 and is due to enter into force in the summer of 2013. Following the EU
Maritime Passenger Rights Act the bill contains arbitration rules that are aimed at the
amicable settlement of disputes between the carrier and passenger.
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Sustainability and responsibility are the guiding principles of any involvement of development policy in the area of tourism. The aim is to achieve a sustainable tourism
industry that is socially, culturally, environmentally and ethically responsible and
economically successful. The tourism industry is one of the economic sectors with the
highest rate of employment (approx. 9 percent worldwide) and value added, and can
achieve inclusive growth and help alleviate poverty. The promotion of sustainability in
the tourism industry therefore has direct relevance for attaining the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals, particularly with regard to the eradication of poverty,
sustainable (economic) development and the protection of the environment and natural
resources.
For German development cooperation, the priority is to identify and tap the potential of
tourism for creating jobs and establishing a fair wage, for improving the income situation
of poorer segments of the population and thereby helping to reduce poverty. Tourism
should have a positive impact on the preservation of natural resources, and responsible
interaction with the culture and traditions of the local population should be promoted.
Positive effects from tourism on employment and income in developing countries can
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then be expected if the tour operators have recourse to a wide range of goods and
services in the local area. The local production and service structure can be developed,
diversified and improved along this value added chain in the tourism sector.
The challenge of development policy is to tap the potential tourism offers while minimising the ecological, social and cultural risks associated with the tourism industry. The
better this system works the more tourism can become a key sector for a green economy of the future. Once tourism grows disproportionately in developing and emerging
countries, this task will become increasingly important but all the more difficult. The
2011 strategy paper of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development entitled "The contribution of the tourism industry to sustainable development and
to achieving the Millennium Development Goals" gives an account of the position of
development policy in this economic sector and is an important point of reference for
international collaboration.
The KfW bank group (KfW) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
are primarily responsible for implementing projects on behalf of the Federal Government
that focus on the promotion of tourism in developing countries. An average of 80
projects containing budgets for tourism-related measures were implemented each year,
with around 30 percent located in Africa, Asia and Europe respectively, and 12 percent
in Latin America and the Caribbean. Furthermore, many other projects also contain
tourism-related components.
The following are at the forefront of development policy measures to promote tourism:
The promotion of business development and employment with a focus on the

development of value chains in the broader tourism sector
Sustainable exploitation of biodiversity and ecosystems to support the income of

local communities
Development of green economy approaches to boost the resource efficiency of

the tourism industry and to adapt to climate change
Development partnerships with private enterprise and support for CSR
Tourism planning, management and marketing
Training and continuing education/knowledge transfer

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Education and PR work
Examples:
The tourism industry in north Africa has been badly affected by the political turmoil in
the region. And while the numbers of visitors are on the rise again, they have yet to
reach pre-revolution levels. The priority here must be to support countries like Egypt or
Tunisia in recovering the confidence of tourists while also increasing quality. In collaboration with TUI, a travel group, German development cooperation supports skills
development and employment - particularly of women - in the Tunisian hotel industry.
Furthermore, the project also works towards the stronger integration of local products
into supply chains to hotels, thereby helping to increase value add in the country. Within
the framework of a strategic alliance between German development cooperation, the
Egyptian tourism ministry and partners from the private sector, an eco-label has been
developed in Egypt for the Egyptian hotel industry (Green Star Initiative) which is now
being implemented at the national level.
Further to this, German development cooperation supports partner countries in establishing and managing conservation areas, which such as the Serengeti are major
tourist attractions. Above all it is important that the local population be involved in the
identification and management of conservation areas and can benefit from the ecosystem services. Some countries, notably those in the savannah regions of Africa,
depend heavily on nature tourism for their economic development (Kenya, Tanzania,
South Africa, Namibia). Tourism is often the gateway to the development of the private
sector, i.e. the creation of jobs and additional income.
Providing 35.5 million in funding through the KfW, the German Federal Government
supports the "Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area" project (KAZA)
located in the border region between Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe and thereby successfully contributes to the creation of new jobs. This project was
born of a regional initiative to protect natural resources in southern Africa. The conservation area is to cover an area of 444,000 km, making it the largest transnational
conservation area in the world. By creating this conservation area, the aim is to protect
and maintain biological diversity and promote sustainable economic development which
can help alleviate poverty. At the same time, collaboration between countries in former
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regions of conflict is fostered as a contribution to peace and stability in the region. The
quality of life of the local population should improve in this way.
Further to this, as part of its development cooperation activities the Federal Government
also supports Tanzania in the protection and sustainable development of the worldrenowned Serengeti eco system. The region is famous for the seasonal migration of two
million wild animals and is of great importance for Tanzania's tourism industry. With a
total of 23.5 million pledged, the project is implemented as a collaborative effort by the
KfW, the German Society for International Cooperation, the Frankfurt Zoological Society
and Tanzanian partners. It comprises the following measures: development of the
economic and social infrastructure and measures to generate income (including
tourism) in the northern neighbouring districts, development of the park infrastructure,
and the reform of the management of wildlife protection. In tandem with partners on the
Tanzanian side, solutions are developed that demonstrate that - far from being opposite
goals - economic development and nature conservation complement each other well.
Under the "Open Regional Funds for South-East Europe Foreign Trade" programme
(ORF), support is lent to the development of tourism structures that can assist the
development of the region by defining a cross-border economic strategy particularly for
the tourism industry and by promoting cross-border hiking-based tourism between
Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania. Furthermore, German development cooperation also
supports the "Danube Competence Centre" (DCC), a regional network of public, private
and non-governmental organisations from Croatia, Serbia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Ukraine
and Moldova.
For the purpose of implementing the ECPAT Code against the sexual abuse of minors,
since the start of 2013 a development partnership has been in place with The Code (an
initiative supported by the business community that works towards the protection of
children from sexual abuse in the tourism industry) and tour operators (Kuoni, Accor,
TUI) in Thailand. The ITB is also an important partner here. With the signing the code of
conduct in 2011, the ITB clearly voiced its opposition to the sexual exploitation of
children.
...
Page 125
In the Danube region, support is lent to the development and implementation of a

Danube Competence Centre as a regional institution for the promotion of tourism
development.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development shows multilateral
involvement in international boards and economic forums such as the World Tourism
Forum in Lucerne, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the World Travel and
Tourism Council (WTTC) and at major tourism trade shows such as the ITB.
Other tasks include the critical oversight of international processes for the development,
refinement and penetration of sustainability standards such as the Global Sustainable
Tourism Criteria (GSTC), Travelife, The Code, Eco Mark Africa and the communication
of cooperation strategies with the private sector involved in tourism.
Further to this, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
became a member of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (GPST) in autumn
2011. In this international platform, which was established with the support of the United
Nations, the different players in the tourism industry - ranging from national governments, municipalities and the tourism business community to international organisations, NGOs and the scientific community - unite to work on the goal of sustainable
tourism. In March 2013 the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Bonn organised the annual GPST convention with the help of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UNWTO and the Federal Ministry for the
Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). At this three-day event,
talks focussed particularly on the following topics:
"Tourism growth: sustainable, green and socially equitable?"
"Biodiversity and sustainable tourism: recommendations to the Biodiversity Convention of the United Nations"
"Private sector: practices and responsibility for resource efficiency and sustainability"
At the national level, the "network for tourism issues" (Themennetzwerk Tourismus)
sponsored by the Federal Government is a central body for the dissemination of
...
Page 126
information and the agreement of tourist-industry measures that are relevant to development policy between the Federal Government (Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development), the project execution organisations of German development cooperation (GIZ, CIM, KfW), the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation
(BfN), the German Investment and Development Corporation (DEG) and UNWTO/Bonn
and the Study Group for Tourism and Development.
Part 5 Key players and organisation of tourism policy in Germany
Within the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology has
lead responsibility for tourism policy. As this report demonstrates, in many areas tourism
policy - as a horizontal issue - cuts across the areas of authority of different departments, such as finance, education and research, labour and social affairs, transportation, the environment, consumer protection, family, culture, justice, home affairs and
foreign policy.
The primary duty of the Federal Government in tourism policy is to improve the general
conditions and therefore strengthen the competitiveness of businesses. As part of
federal responsibilities, this also includes the provision of the necessary infrastructure
for tourism together with the Lnder and municipalities. Responsibility for specific
planning, development and the direct promotion of tourism generally lies with the
Lnder. Tourism policy is agreed twice annually between the Federal Government and
the Lnder in the Federal-Lnder Committee chaired by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
The role of the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism was introduced in
December 2005. The Commissioner acts as the point of contact for the business
community and its associations. Currently Mr. Ernst Burgbacher occupies the office as a
Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
He voices tourism-related concerns in the Federal Government and in Parliament,
particularly in the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism. The Committee on Tourism
provides valuable impetus to tourism policy and through its initiatives, questions and
...
Page 127
consultations raises public awareness of the economic importance of the tourism

industry.
The role of the Advisory Council on Issues of Tourism at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is to ensure the close collaboration between the Federal
Government and the tourism industry. This advisory council brings together the interests
of policy-makers, the business and scientific communities, trade unions, municipal
bodies and associations. Convening twice a year, the advisory council's members
include the Tourism Committee chairperson and the tourism policy speakers of the
parliamentary groups of the German Bundestag in addition to representatives from the
areas mentioned above. The Federal Commissioner for the Small Business Sector and
Tourism heads the advisory council on behalf of the Federal Minister of Economics and
Technology.

Federal Government Report On Tourism Policy

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Federal Government Report

- 17th legislative term -

Shaping demographic change

Targeted support for SMEs active in the tourism industry

Social responsibility in the tourism industry

International framework conditions

Part 2 Tourism policy at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

Federal Foreign Office (Auswrtiges Amt (AA))

Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)

Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)

Federal Ministry of Health (BMG)

Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)

Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ)

Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS)

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Part 5 Key players and organisation of tourism policy in Germany

Part 1 Opportunities and challenges for tourism policy

1.1 Tourism successful midmarket growth sector

Current priority areas of the Federal Government's SME policy include:

Reducing bureaucracy to give businesses greater latitude. Since the introduction

1.2 Tourism: an important factor for the economy

The role of tourism in the German economy

Comprehensive, up-to-date figures on the economic importance of tourism to the

The results are remarkable:

Generating 97 billion in 2010, the German tourism industry accounted directly

Positive trends in tourism development

Source: Federal Statistical Office Wiesbaden

Source: Federal Statistical Office Wiesbaden

Source: Federal Statistical Office Wiesbaden

Increasing importance of non-resident visitors

Of the 407.3 million overnight stays in German accommodation establishments in 2012,

Source: Federal Statistical Office Wiesbaden

Of these, visitors came from:

Source: Federal Statistical Office Wiesbaden

Business travel an important and growing tourism segment in Germany

Germany is also enjoying unprecedented popularity as a destination for business

The importance of business-related tourism in Germany is disproportionately high, with

Source: German National Tourist Board/Federal Association of the German Tourism

Tourism: a thriving sector worldwide

Inernational tourist arrivals in 2012 in millions

Middle East 52.6

Asia/ Pacific 232.9

Global growth forecast for 2013: +3% to +4%

Source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, January 2013

Tourism is playing an increasingly important role worldwide in the creation of growth

Approximately 1.035 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded worldwide in

Top 10 destinations by international

Germany ranks eighth among the most popular travel destinations

Source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, January 2013;

Germany ranks sixth in the world for tourism receipts

Tourism industry receipts from international visitors in 2011

Source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, January 2013

Arrivals of residents and non-residents in hotels,

Source: EUROSTAT (as at 18 March 2013); arrival of a resident or non-resident registering in a

Germany is an extremely popular travel destination. With 115.6 million arrivals of

Overnight stays of residents and non-residents in hotels,

Overnight stays in millions

Source: EUROSTAT (as at 18 March 2013); an overnight stay of a resident or non-resident is

1.3 Framework conditions for the tourism industry

Shaping demographic change

Skilled labour for the tourism industry