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The Basque Government’s minister of Tourism, Trade and Consumption, Alfredo Retortillo, inaugurated Euskadi’s Stand this morning at the ITB tourism Fair in Berlin, accompanied by the Director of Basquetour, the Basque Tourist Agency, Harkaitz Millan.  A stand measuring 160 m² is promoting the top Basque touristic spots to the German market.  Bilbao Tourism is also present with a space at the Basquetour stand with another located in the “Gay & Lesbian Travel” pavilion.

Berlin, Germany.   According to the Basque Government, tourists that come to Euskadi from Germany have increased 44% in entries and 51% in overnight stays over the last six years, and show the highest increase last year from 26-30%.  The minister stressed “the potential of German tourism which we will continue to promote with international events and along with destination Germany that is currently the third European issuer of tourists to Euskadi trailing the UK and France currently.

Retortillo had wanted to begin “Experience-Euskadi” as the axis on which to articulate the attractiveness of German tourism.  The German’s main inspiration at this time relies on the opinions of family and friends.  According to the minister, German tourists get most of their information from friends or family members, and otherwise through catalogues, pamphlets, fliers and agency recommendations, “so our presence at this fair is very relevant.”

In 2017, a total of 106,643 German tourists registered at tourist spots in Euskadi.

German tourists that visit the Autonomous Basque Community mainly come from Renania in North-Westfalia (20%), Hesse (15%) and Berlín (13%) and are mainly attracted by gastronomy and wine (21%), tourism (19%), touring (18%) and cultural tourism and events (18%). Sixty seven percent of those come by plane and 18& in private cars, with 8% by bus. During their stay in Euskadi 85% travel on foot, with 60% by public transport and 19% with their own car.

Expense per person in Euskadi for a tourist from Germany is 100.2 Euros.  In regards to expenses, 27% goes to lodging, 18% to meals, 36% on transportation, and 5.2% to gastronomic activities, 6% to other activities, and 6% on shopping.  Fifty-one percent of German visitors say that Euskadi is their only destination with 32% making an overnight stay prior to Euskadi, 11% only before and after, and 5% after Euskadi.  The average stay in Euskadi is 5.1 nights.  

Bilbao-Bizkaia

In regards to, Bilbao Turismo it has two promotional spaces at the ITB Fair in Berlin, one located at the Basquetour stand and the other in the “Gay & Lesbian Travel,” pavilion.

What is being offered and presented in Berlin focuses mainly on eight of the 30 touristic products established in the “'Strategy of Tourist Positioning 2018-2025,” presented last January by the Bilbao City Council and the Bizkaian Provincial Government.

The products have been chosen according to the preferences shown by the German public in their visits to the Biscayan capital and the Territory and are the following: nature and landscape, coast and sea tourism, Bilbao Metropolis, gastronomy, the world of Txakoli, Basque identity, Unesco’s Patrimony of the Humanity and rural tourism.

In addition, touring has been added, a produce much in demand by German tourists, who are especially fond of using cars or motorhomes to allow getting to know their destinations in depth.