A record number of tourists are heading to Germany and Netherlands and the figure is expected to rise further in the coming years.
According to statistics, Germany is the seventh most visited country in the world, with over 68 million overnight stays by foreign visitors in the year 2012. Record numbers of tourists are heading to Germany and in terms of overnight stays, travel to some of the biggest cities in Germany has more than doubled between 1995 and 2005, the largest increase for any travel destination in the world. The trend is set to continue in the coming months, with expectations of overseas visitor figures rising further in the year 2014. A recent study shows that Germany is rated as one of the safest travel destinations worldwide; it is also one of the most influential European nations culturally, attracting visitors from all over the world for its architectural treasures and fascinating places of natural beauty.
Germany is one of world’s greatest economic powers admired by visitors for its old world charm as also for its engineering and hi tech products. With its historical regions and local diversity, Germany is the ideal travel destination. Whether you are travelling with family or friends, the country has plenty of modern cities and stunning landscapes for you to discover, and a host of activities to make your trip a memorable experience.
Each city in Germany is unique with a remarkable wealth of culture and old world attractions, be it the world class museums or spectacular countryside with quaint little villages and fairy tale castles. There are many countries that have their share of World War II memorials but none that have as many as Germany. The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin honours millions of Jews who died during World War II. The Berlin Wall draws millions of tourists each year due to its turbulent history. From 1961 to 1989 the Berlin Wall divided the city in two; though most of this structure has been torn down, the fragments remain a feature of the city now.
Situated in the heart of Europe, Germany’s big buzzing cities have plenty of tourist attractions and unique sights to offer. You can go to Frankfurt for the museums, Dusseldorf for fashion, Berlin for the music, Hamburg for the art and Munich for a great night out.
If you are planning a visit to Germany and are worried about visa regulations, you can rest easy. If you are an EU national, then you will not need a visa if your stay is up to 90 days. Citizens of some countries like USA, Canada and Singapore also do not need a visa for trips that are shorter than 90 days. On the other hand, citizens of many countries do require either a tourist visa or a Schengen visa for their stay in Germany. A Schengen visa gives you the freedom to visit all EU countries on one single visa, for up to 90 days, which is the best option if you are planning a Europe trip and plan on visiting several countries.
Of late, the Netherlands too has been seeing a remarkable increase in visitor numbers with a record number of 12.7 million visitors coming to the country in 2013. Germans, Britons and Belgians made up the majority of tourists, though the largest percentage increase in visitors came from Russia and China and further growth is expected with predictions of 13 million visitors in 2014. With its small size, welcoming environment and many tourist attractions, Netherlands is a top tourist destination and a great addition to any European trip.
Also known as Holland, the Netherlands is a densely populated country that is packed with surprises. It is a charming country famous for its scenic beauty, ancient windmills and colourful tulip fields. The beautiful capital city of Amsterdam is one of the top destinations in the world.
Netherlands was a great naval power with a wealth of heritage and famous for its painters, windmills and flatlands. Though tourism is a relatively small sector of the Dutch economy, it attracts many foreign visitors owing to its rich historical heritage. There are as many as seven world heritage sites in the Netherlands. Most of the tourism industry of the Netherlands is focussed on the northern and southern regions of Holland. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Randstad, Leiden, The Hague and Maastricht are all cities teeming with tourist attractions. The city of Amsterdam is the most visited city of the Netherlands, home to world famous museums such as the Van Gogh museum, Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum and canal ring, a world heritage site. The Van Gogh museum is considered one of the best galleries featuring impressionist artwork. Though many tourists come to visit the major cities, the flowering tulips and beaches are also strong draw cards and there is a big increase in tourists coming to experience the Dutch way of life.
If you are planning a visit to the Netherlands for no more than 90 days and are a EU national, then you may not need a visa. Canadians, US citizens and citizens of some countries also do not require the Schengen visa for short trips. But if you are not an EU national, then you may need a Schengen visa to visit the Netherlands. However, if you are just changing flights in the Netherlands on international travel, you may just require an airport transit visa, called the A visa, with which you cannot enter the country. There is another visa called the B- visa which allows you to travel through the country for a maximum period of 5 days. This is for people whose final destination is not in the Schengen area but who are travelling through it. The C-visa or the tourist visa is given for a maximum period of 90 days and can be used for several purposes such as holiday, tourism, family visit or participation in sporting events.
With a host of special events and festivities coming up in both Germany and Netherlands, more tourist inflow is expected this year.
