James Kennedy of Brainjuicer, Inc., speaking at the ACTS Summit in Washington, D.C. alerted that safety is a deciding factor for German travelers.
His recommendation is that destinations promote local culture and diversity to convert potential visitors into real visitors. “It is important to help the independent traveler to be independent,” he concluded at the presentation.
According to Kennedy, Germans also are attracted by beach and pristine natural environment.
He explained that the DR has been the Caribbean market to most successfully capture the interest of the German tourist. He explained that the growing number of German independent travelers are relying more on family and friends, the Internet and guidebooks to decide where to travel, but there is still a reliance on travel agent brochures.
He forecast that Germans are more likely to travel more, while contrasting it to the UK market where hard economic times ahead are forecast to have an impact on British holiday plans.
On the contrary, he explained that Germans are optimistic that their financials will improve over the next two years, not so the British that believe their financials will worsen.
Statistics show that as of 2007-2008, the DR is the main market for the German tourist. The relative strength of the German economy and of the Euro suggests that the markets for long haul travel should be showing strength over the next two years.