ID :
202315
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/202315
The shortlink copeid
M'SIA 'COULD DRAW GERMAN SPORTS TOURISTS'
By Manik Mehta
BERLIN, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia could take advantage of German tourists' propensity for sports and tailor its marketing strategy to suit their specific desires.
Armed with hard euro currency, Germans do not generally shy of adventure in far-flung shores, including Malaysia.
But like any other tourism community, the Germans also have peculiar likes and dislikes.
“Sports holidays are destined to become a winning trend,” says a
spokesperson of the Messe Berlin which organizes the annual International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, rated as the world’s biggest tourism spectacle.
According to the latest survey of the World Travel Monitor, commissioned by ITB Berlin, the last five years have seen a double-digit rise in sporting holidays among European tourists, surpassing even the much-liked cruising holidays which, five years ago, ranked ahead of sports holidays.
Germans, in particular, are very keen on sports, and account for 42 per cent of the nine million sports holidays taken by Europeans abroad. Trailing far behind the Germans are the Dutch, who rank second.
In other European markets, sports holidays make up only six per cent or less.
For sports holidaymakers, the most popular destination is Austria which, among Europeans, attracts 24 per cent of the market followed by Italy and Germany, with each accounting for 11 per cent.
During the last five years, Germans said they preferred Austria also for testing their sporting limits. At 42 per cent, Austria ranks ahead of Italy (18 per cent) and Switzerland (14 per cent).
Given its scenic landscape dotted by small country lanes, Malaysia could offer attractive space for hiking, which is the most popular activity (38 per cent) for Europeans, and bicycle tours (23 per cent).
These are followed by motor sports (car, motorcycle and motorboat racing) at 14 per cent.
Given that Malaysia also hosts Formula 1 racing, motor sports could be an attractive way to promote tourism traffic from Germany and other European countries.
Another very popular sport is golf for which Malaysia already has excellent courses. Nine per cent of German sports holidaymakers prefer golf.
Commenting on the findings of the WTM, Martin Buck, director of the
Competence Centre Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin, said: ”Sporting holidays are a niche segment with a serious potential for tourism in the future. A growing awareness of one’s body and mind means that people are increasingly keen to improve their health when on vacation.”
The most interesting part of the WTM findings is that sports holidaymakers belong to the wealthier part of society and, as such, are a very important market segment.
BERLIN, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia could take advantage of German tourists' propensity for sports and tailor its marketing strategy to suit their specific desires.
Armed with hard euro currency, Germans do not generally shy of adventure in far-flung shores, including Malaysia.
But like any other tourism community, the Germans also have peculiar likes and dislikes.
“Sports holidays are destined to become a winning trend,” says a
spokesperson of the Messe Berlin which organizes the annual International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, rated as the world’s biggest tourism spectacle.
According to the latest survey of the World Travel Monitor, commissioned by ITB Berlin, the last five years have seen a double-digit rise in sporting holidays among European tourists, surpassing even the much-liked cruising holidays which, five years ago, ranked ahead of sports holidays.
Germans, in particular, are very keen on sports, and account for 42 per cent of the nine million sports holidays taken by Europeans abroad. Trailing far behind the Germans are the Dutch, who rank second.
In other European markets, sports holidays make up only six per cent or less.
For sports holidaymakers, the most popular destination is Austria which, among Europeans, attracts 24 per cent of the market followed by Italy and Germany, with each accounting for 11 per cent.
During the last five years, Germans said they preferred Austria also for testing their sporting limits. At 42 per cent, Austria ranks ahead of Italy (18 per cent) and Switzerland (14 per cent).
Given its scenic landscape dotted by small country lanes, Malaysia could offer attractive space for hiking, which is the most popular activity (38 per cent) for Europeans, and bicycle tours (23 per cent).
These are followed by motor sports (car, motorcycle and motorboat racing) at 14 per cent.
Given that Malaysia also hosts Formula 1 racing, motor sports could be an attractive way to promote tourism traffic from Germany and other European countries.
Another very popular sport is golf for which Malaysia already has excellent courses. Nine per cent of German sports holidaymakers prefer golf.
Commenting on the findings of the WTM, Martin Buck, director of the
Competence Centre Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin, said: ”Sporting holidays are a niche segment with a serious potential for tourism in the future. A growing awareness of one’s body and mind means that people are increasingly keen to improve their health when on vacation.”
The most interesting part of the WTM findings is that sports holidaymakers belong to the wealthier part of society and, as such, are a very important market segment.
