Let’s be more like the Germans
UK: Government says we should adopt the holiday habits of our Teutonic cousins
The nation’s holidaymakers may – or may not – be furious to discover the Government says we should be more like the Germans in our holiday habits.
Kim Howells, the Tourism Minister, said we should become more like out Teutonic cousins; he believes that as well as taking holidays abroad, we should also plan breaks within our own country and support the tourism industry here. Germans generally take six weeks’ holiday a year, compared to four in the UK.
Howells told The Independent: “In Germany, people take roughly the same number of holidays in Spain that British people do – but they complement that with a second holiday in Germany. That is what we have got to aim at.” He added: “I believe that travel agents should understand there is a huge untapped market for British people to take more holidays in Britain.”
However, The Independent’s travel editor Simon Calder points out that despite the “favourable” conditions for British tourism – i.e. a general fear of flying and Lonely Planet’s recent assertion that Great Britain is “one of the most beautiful islands on earth” – there are plenty of reasons why Britons will continue to travel abroad in numbers.
He writes: “The typical high street travel agent is set up to dispense overseas package holidays. Besides that British holidays are likely to be more expensive. And then there are the trains …”
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive