The German National Tourist Office UK and Ireland (GNTO) has announced further expansions to its ongoing accessible ‘BarrierFree’ travel campaign with new German destinations, activities and UK tour operators available immediately. New to the GNTO’s website is the State of Bavaria as a travel partner, offering accessible Royal castles, romantic towns and Bavarian national parks. Four new specialist tour operators have been added including Accomable, plus specialist supplier Mobility Equipment Hire, which provides mobility equipment hire in key cities such as Berlin and Munich. Existing travel partner Brandenburg has also been updated with new destinations and activities.

For the bold traveller looking for something a little bit different, accessible mudflat hiking, ice skating and Draisine trolley rides (buggies that you can ‘cycle’ along railroad tracks) are just some of the activities newly added to the GNTOs ‘Feeling Fearless’ page. This also features blind cycling, white water rafting and skiing; you can delve deep into a coal mine or feel on top of the world in Frankfurt’s famous “Main” tower – just a few of the BarrierFree activities to be discovered in Germany.

Along with sustainability, BarrierFree travel is an ongoing, core, permanent travel campaign for the German National Tourist Board worldwide. The GNTO UK and Ireland launched its own regional multi-media ‘BarrierFree’ accessible travel campaign in 2012. From there, it has gone from strength to strength with 1200 unique visitors per month, showing a 57% increase in 2016 from 2015. While the website is aimed at the consumer, the GNTO offers a high level of marketing, administrative and networking support to the travel trade industry; plus on the ground logistical and planning advice with specialist partners in Germany.

Not only the BarrierFree website has recorded impressive increases: latest statistics from the Federal Statistical Office in Germany show an increase in overnight stays by visitors from the UK, of +0.8% for the period of January – March 2017, compared to the similar period for 2016. Ireland has recorded yet another increase – +4.4% for January – March in comparison to the previous year.

Klaus Lohmann, director of the GTNO UK and Ireland commented: “The new activities and destinations on our expanded website open up enormous possibilities for visitors to Germany, whether they’re considering a first trip outside of the UK and Ireland or for the more experienced traveller. Germany extends the warmest welcome to all visitors, whatever your needs; the increase in traffic to our website as a one-stop shop, is an indicator that the demand is there for inspiring and affordable quality accessible holidays to Germany. We will continue to do all we can to support and inspire the consumer and travel trade professionals alike”.