BRUSSELS: Conference trips from Europe to Germany increased by 5 per cent last year – helping it take the crown as the continent’s top country for business.
The number of business trips from Europe to conferences and events in Germany has grown for the past five years – from 2.3 million in 2009 to 3.7 million in 2014. A total of 12.4 million Europeans travelled on business to Germany last year.
Matthias Schultze, MD of the German Convention Bureau, said: “There are several reasons behind these encouraging figures. Germany offers excellent infrastructure and good value for money, both important criteria for event planners. It also offers several areas of expertise which organisers can work with for events which cover related industries.
Several German cities and regions lead in the areas of business and science, and the country is a leading centre in the field of sustainability and innovation.”
As well as the increase of 5 per cent in the amount of business travel to conferences and events, in 2014 there were 6.9 million business trips to trade fairs, meetings, incentives, conferences and events – representing a 56 per cent share of the market and a 1 per cent increase on the previous year.
Petra Hedorfer, chair of the executive board of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), said: “In this way, business trips to conferences and congresses offset the 3 per cent decrease in the trade fairs and exhibitions sector. Due to the downturn in traditional business trips, also 3 per cent, business trips from Europe to Germany decreased by 1 per cent overall in 2014.”
