The German National Tourist Board has awarded the 44th Germany Travel Mart to Saxony. 

The GTM cup was handed to Bettina Bunge, managing director of Dresden Marketing by 2017 host Jens Huwald, chief executive, Bavaria Tourism, and Yvonne Coulin, chief executive, Nuremberg Convention & Tourist Office in Nuremberg.

Petra Hedorfer, chief executive, the German National Tourist Board, said: “With almost 900,000 international overnight stays in 2016, Dresden is one of the most requested destinations in the country, which is why we were extremely pleased with Dresden’s application to host the GTM Germany Travel Mart.

“The city’s tourism managers have been working together intensively and constructively for some years now and Dresden is regularly a partner in the GNTB’s international marketing activities. 

The GTM is the largest incoming travel trade workshop for Destination Germany.

The event is organised annually by the DZT in collaboration with different partner regions and cities.

During the three days of the event, around 300 German suppliers meet over 500 high-calibre travel trade professionals and buyers, plus journalists from around 50 countries.

Key account managers from all over the world travel to this, the most important business-to-business platform for Germany tourism in order to discover the latest travel trends in Germany, to make new contacts and to strengthen existing relationships, to conduct trade discussions and to conclude important business.

Bunge said: “In 2018, we will welcome the most important international travel trade representatives and travel journalists to the Germany Travel Mart in Dresden and present our beautiful city with great its history, the high-calibre cultural offering and the wonderfully varied Saxony region to the most influential tourism decision makers. 

“We would like to thank the DZT for awarding the GTM in our favour and having confidence in our city.

“Dresden is a living tradition. 

“From the many international and domestic visitors, to the scientists and the entrepreneurs who live and work here, all are struck by the special Dresden spirit.”