Cologne is looking to continue the rapid growth in visitors to the German city seen this year which, if it continues, will see it surpass 2006 - when Germany held the football World Cup - as a record year for tourism.
Gregor Gosciniak, Cologne Tourism's head of market management, says both arrivals and overnight visitors are up nearly 30% during the first six months of the year. "If this continues, this is going to be the best year we've ever had," he said.
He added that tourism is up in many cities across Germany, putting it down to increased interest in visiting German cities themselves rather than the countryside.
"People tend to think Germany is only for business but in places like Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, they offer so much," he said.
Gosciniak added that tourism to German cities has been on the up since they were showcased during the World Cup in 2006 - a breakthrough Cologne and other German cities are now enjoying the fruits of.
Source: Flight Daily News