The positive trend of tourism in Berlin continues in January 2009: about 462.953 guests traveled during the first month of the year to the German capital. This corresponds to an increase of four per cent. They stayed for 1 000 035 nights in Berlin- a tremendous growth of about 7.2 per cent in comparison to the previous year. These are the results of the current visitor figures of the Bureau of Statistics Berlin- Brandenburg.
Burkhard Kieker, general manager of Berlin Tourism Marketing Gmbh, is cautiously optimistic; „Despite the crises Berlin remains highly attractive and the current figures controvert the declining trend of other destinations. The market is very unequal, but Berlins is very versatile; an excellent cost benefit ratio, an unique atmosphere of a culture and lifestyle metropolis as well as the various events dealing with the anniversary of the fall of the wall. Therefore, we will belong to the winners in the crisis."
The number of foreign visitors consolidates on a high level. About 134.004 international guests came within the first month of the year to Berlin (-0, 4%). Nevertheless, in comparison to 2008 the number of overnight stays increased by 5.1 per cent up to 347.119 nights. Particular popular is the city at the river Spree for the Greeks (+35.9%) and the Italians (14.6%). In contrast to this development other traditionally good markets are on a rather declining bench, like for instance USA (20.1%), Switzerland (-23.4%) and Great Britain (-12%).