Hotels and tourist attractions in Bath look set to benefit from a predicted boost in German business and leisure travellers as new flights linking Bristol Airport with major German cities take off.
Some 30,000 German tourists visit the city each year but Bath Tourism Plus’ (BTP) latest marketing strategy aims to capitalise on the three new flights by strengthening promotion of Bath in Europe’s largest country..
BTP head of marketing David Jackson said key German travel agents will be targeted at the world’s leading travel trade s
how in Berlin next month. In addition, BTP will attend IMEX in Frankfurt in May, the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, showcasing Bath’s attractions and promoting the flights.
Bath Business News travel editor Anne Gorringe joined the VIP passengers on last week’s inaugural bmi regional flight from Bristol to Hamburg. To coincide with the first flight, the airline also revealed it is to add further direct services to Munich and Hanover on May 13. On the same day it will also double the frequency on its Bristol-Frankfurt route, started last December, to a twice-daily service.
Mr Jackson added that BTP has also invited a group of key German visitors to Bath in May to attract more leisure visitors to the city.
He said: “Having previously identified Germany as a priority inbound market in our marketing strategy, these new routes from Bristol Airport provide a fantastic opportunity for Bath to attract more German visitors for both leisure and business Coupled with the new bus service between the airport and Bath scheduled to start at the end of March, it has never been easier for overseas visitors to get to Bath.”
Bristol Airport chief executive officer Robert Sinclair is also delighted with the impact of the new flights on Bath and the West. He said: “Bmi regional has recognised the strength and resilience of the South West economy and has made a major commitment to connect corporate in the region to key European business centres.
“The new routes will also appeal to leisure travellers and will generate additional inbound visitors to both the South West and Wales.”
