Germany is second largest international feeder market for Santa Monica based on the Santa Monica Visitors and Convention Bureau’s 2011 Economic Impact Report.
The SMCVB said Germany was California’s sixth-largest overseas market in 2011, with 423,000 visitors spending $720 million. Growth is anticipated to be 3.1 percent in 2012, and 16 percent through 2015.
“There are over 200 nonstop flights — more than 76,000 seats — from Germany to California on a monthly average,” read the SMCVB’s market update newsletter. “Even with the growing trend of bookings through online travel agents, tour operators saw a three percent increase in long-haul bookings.”
Despite the European recession, the German economy continues growing, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years.
A low unemployment rate of 6.5 percent, strong wage increases and an essentially sound outlook for the future are supporting German economic activity.
“The German desire to travel is steadfast,” the SMCVB market update newsletter reads. “Germany remains a mature, stable market with solid growth potential, with California ranking high for Germans as a desired destination. Germans rate among the highest in their planning cycle, with over four months of research prior to booking.”
Australia/New Zealand ranks as Santa Monica’s number one international feeder market (9.8 percent). It is followed by Germany (6.6 percent), Japan (6.6 percent), Asia-Pacific Islands (6.5 percent), United Kingdom (6.3 percent), and the Middle East (6 percent).
