The Tourism Bureau of Germany and Austria launched a promotional campaign in Beijing on Wednesday to lure more tourists to the region.

 

Over 50 travel organizations from the two countries took part in this campaign. 

 

Last year, Chinese tourists paid over one million visits to the EU. The growing Chinese market has been targeted by many European countries. Following in the footsteps of South Africa and Switzerland, Germany and Austria -- two major tourist destinations in Europe, launched their own promotional campaign.

 

Xu Shengli, a representative of the Beijing Office of the Tourism Bureau of Germany, said Chinese tourists have spent 600,000 nights in Germany from January to August, a 12.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.

 

In 2007, the theme of the German tourism campaign will be "Land of Arts and Culture," with a focus on Germany's historical cities and relics. Meanwhile, Austria's theme, called "Royal Austria", will center on the glamour of its royal past and anchored by the story of Princess Sissi.

 

(CRIENGLISH.com October 26, 2006)