The economic crisis is forcing national tourist boards to project lower incoming figures, the latest being Germany whose German National Tourist Board recently said that it would be hosting fewer tourists in 2009. Overnight stays in Germany are expected to fall by 2 percent in 2009, the Reuters news agency reports. That marks a steep drop from last year's 2.1 percent gain. "The global economic crisis has reached international tourism," said Petra Hedorfer, the board's chief executive. "Shorter, closer and cheaper" is the trend for 2009, she added, explaining that it was hard to tell exactly how consumers will react to the economic crisis as they are increasingly deciding at short notice where to go on holiday, if at all.

 

Stand By News, 2009-03-18