Germany Encourages US Travelers To Visit This Year


The German National Tourist Office is encouraging travelers from the United States to visit the country this year, showcasing its sustainability, responsibility and cultural sites in exciting new ways.

According to Amrei Gold, head of public relations for the GNTO, Americans comprise the majority of international travelers to Germany. With approximately 40 million Americans who claim German heritage, the most popular reason for visiting Germany for leisure trips is heritage travel. Overall, Germany is the third most popular destination for Americans to visit, with the United Kingdom and France coming in first and second.

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With desire for international travel expected to grow more this year than in the past two years, the GNTO is preparing several exciting new ways for travelers to interact with and learn more about Germany before they even arrive.

One of these new ways is a microsite dedicated to educating travelers on barrier-free accommodations and attractions in Germany. From mobility differences to neurodivergence and more, the GNTO has created approved lists of accommodations, attractions and information for travelers with disabilities and their families.

Similarly, it’s published another microsite dedicated to sustainable and responsible travel within Germany, with a list of the most sustainable accommodations, attractions, travel methods, cities and more. Did you know Berlin is a vegan and vegetarian food mecca? It even hosts an annual vegan and vegetarian food festival each year and is home to the first-ever all-vegan grocery store chain!

The tourism organization is also currently in the voting stage of the new Top 100 Sights and Attractions in Germany; travelers who have visited the country can vote for their favorites now through June 30, when the list of the top 100 will be published.

Additionally, GNTO is working to create educational experiences for travelers using technology and social media. A new augmented reality program now allows people to place themselves into Germany’s most popular castles and palaces using AR technology on their cell phones! Users can take selfies in a digital Neuschwanstein Castle, take quizzes on Moritzburg Castle’s history and more.


Switzerland and Germany with Oberammergau Passion Play
Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Germany. (photo via Collette)

Americans can currently enter Germany provided they have proof of full vaccination, a recent recovery or a recent negative COVID-19 test.

For more information on current entry requirements for Germany and destinations around the world, please visit our interactive map.



For more information on travel to Germany, please visit GNTO’s website.





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Emergency Manager discourages travel, encourages patience as winter storm approaches – SOUTHEAST


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CDC encourages holiday travel for Americans who are vaccinated


Holiday travel season is fast approaching and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people should spend time with their families as long as everyone is vaccinated.

Robert Schneider, deputy commissioner of aviation for the town of Islip, says it’s encouraging especially now that the delta variant is starting to subside a bit.

Schneider says the number of travelers has been going up significantly at MacArthur Airport. He says they expect a surge for the upcoming holiday season.

“People should feel comfortable traveling,” says Schneider. “Airlines, airports, everybody has worked together to ensure that the traveling public is safe when they’re flying.”

MacArthur Airport now has an air purification system that runs all day. There are touchless systems throughout the terminals and other germ-killing devices to keep surfaces like door handles clean.

The O’Rourke family says they finally feel comfortable traveling again since they are vaccinated.

“In November we’re going to Disney and to visit family,” says Elizabeth O’Rourke, of Deer Park. “And in December we’re going to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.”

Airport officials say by 2022 they expect pre-pandemic traveler numbers to return.



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Central Coast travel program encourages “caring tourism”


Highway 1 Discovery Route has launched its Stewardship Travel for Good Program, which encourages coastal California travelers to “make a difference while on vacation.”

The program includes beach clean-ups, trail restoration, museums, and park tours along with other sustainable activities.

“We want our visitors to feel a deeper connection to our region, so ways that we do that are educating and inspiring them to do good while they’re here whether it be spend a few minutes cleaning up trash, or whether it’s a few hours building a trail in Montaña de Oro,” said Katie Sturtevant, director of the Stewardship Travel for Good Program .

On Saturday, Travel For Good hosted a beach clean-up at Avila Beach in collaboration with the Central Coast Aquarium. Visitors could grab beach clean-up kits and help protect marine life through a couple hours of picking up left-behind trash. Each clean-up kit includes a collection bag, glove, and an Avila Beach Appreciation Stewardship tote bag.

The program offers these clean-up kits daily, with no reservations required. High school aged family members may also receive volunteer credit while on their vacation.

Clean-Up Kits are available at: Central Coast Aquarium, Avila Beach Golf Resort, Avila Lighthouse Suites, Avila Village Inn, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, Coastal Vacation Rentals and San Luis Bay Inn.

The Travel for Good Program promotes activities all along the Central Coast.

“The Sea Star award that was given to the program this past weekend from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary really shines the light on a new trend of caring tourism that the Highway 1 Discovery Route has helped create and model for the state of California,” said Sturtevant.

A list of activities along Highway 1 can be found here.





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Central Coast travel program encourages “caring tourism”


Highway 1 Discovery Route has launched the Stewardship Travel for Good Program, which encourages travelers on the California coast to “make a difference during their vacation.”

This program includes beach cleaning, trail restoration, museums, park tours and other sustainable activities.

“We want our visitors to feel a deeper connection to our area, so the way we do that is whether it takes a few minutes to clean up the trash while they are here, or a number. Educate and inspire them to do good things, whether it’s time or not, to build a trail in Montagna de Oro. “

On Saturday, Travel For Good hosted a beach cleanup at Avila Beach in collaboration with the Central Coast Aquarium. Visitors can get a beach cleanup kit and protect marine life by picking up leftover trash for hours. Each cleanup kit includes a collection bag, gloves, and an Avila Beach Appreciation Stewardship tote bag.

The program provides these cleanup kits daily and no reservations are required. High school family members may also receive volunteer credits during the holidays.

Cleanup kits are available at Central Coast Aquarium, Avila Beach Golf Resort, Avila Lighthouse Suites, Avila Village Inn, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, Coastal Vacation Rental and San Luis Bay Inn.

The Travel for Good program facilitates activities throughout the Central Coast.

“Last weekend, the Seastar Awards given to the program by the Monterey Bay National Marine Reserve shed light on a new trend of compassionate tourism that helped Highway 1 Discovery Route create and model California. “.” Said Startevant.

You can find a list of activities along Highway 1 here..

Central Coast travel program encourages “caring tourism” Source link Central Coast travel program encourages “caring tourism”





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Police stuff-up accidentally encourages officers working in quarantine to use public transport


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A communication stuff-up led to police working in hotel quarantine accidentally being encouraged to catch public transport.

A directive was sent out to officers working in quarantine hotels instructing them to use public transport to travel to and from work.

But Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt says it was a “miscommunication”, and both the union and police command do not want officers working in hotel quarantine to travel on trains, trams or buses.

“I’ve read the email. It, I think, misconstrues what the intent of the parties has always been, and it is to absolutely try and make sure our members, as much as possible, are using vehicles to eliminate the need for them to be on public transport,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“I’ve spoken to senior police command this morning and we’ve affirmed that we’re both on the same page here.

“Senior command have assured me that this miscommunication will be fixed and will be fixed very, very quickly.”

Press PLAY below to hear Wayne Gatt explain the ‘miscommunication’

Image: Darrian Traynor / Getty



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Grand Rapids encourages staycations to help local hotels


Korn says a good Valentine’s Day weekend turnout in Grand Rapids showed that people are willing to stay in hotels once again.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — If you have the travel bug but are unsure about it during the pandemic, a staycation could be the answer. And Experience Grand Rapids hopes it will help local hotels as well.

“We’re really hopeful that we’ll be able to get our local community members staying overnight and also getting people coming from out of town,” says Janet Korn, Senior Vice President for Experience Grand Rapids.

The travel industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, but that could soon change. According to travel research group Longwoods International, 80% of American travelers plan to vacation in the next six months. That’s the highest total since March of last year. Alternatively, only 40% say COVID will impact their decision to travel.

Korn says a good Valentine’s Day weekend turnout in Grand Rapids showed that people are willing to stay in hotels once again.

“We know that if people have enough of a reason to get out, they will do an overnight stay,” she says. “That was a good weekend, but we need a lot more good weekends.”

To help, Experience Grand Rapids is partnering with ten local hotels to give a 25% discount off the second night of your stay throughout March and April. Korn says in talking with hotel owners, increased business is much needed after a year of mass layoffs in the industry.

“Our local hotels are staffed by the people who live in our community,” says Korn. “And the people who are holding onto their jobs would really love to bring back some of their team members.”

She hopes the incentive to staycation will keep local businesses thriving.

“To really help restore some of those lives in the hospitality industry,” says Korn.

A full list of participating hotels can be found here.

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