For the first time, Chinese tourists have outnumbered the Japanese to become Germany's largest market in Asia, and No 2 globally, following the US.

In the first quarter of this year, the number of hotel stays booked by Chinese tourists increased by 8.2 percent over the same period of 2009, to 204,903, compared with 184,646 for Japanese tourists, and 789,507 for Americans, according to recent data from the German National Tourist Board.

Chinese tourists were an important driver of Germany's 6.7 percent growth in tourism in the January to March period.
Petra Hedorfer, chief executive of the German National Tourist Board, said the Asian market will play an increasingly important role in European tourism, so it is important for Germany to promote the country's destinations.

Germany has redoubled its promotion efforts after the German National Tourist Board placed increasing emphasis on China and held events in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai earlier this year.

The tourist board and the German Federal Railways also held a joint press conference in Beijing to announce the rail carrier's first office in China.

Promotion of Germany's tourism has reached the highest level as a Shanghai World Expo exhibitor. With the theme "10 Reasons to visit Destination Germany," the promotion gives visitors to the Germany Pavilion a view of the nation's main attractions.

In another move, Lufthansa's first Airbus A380 put into use on Aug 25 for the Beijing to Frankfurt route, offering Chinese tourists the first chance to experience the new model. Passengers on board the Airbus A380's first class and business cabins will enjoy traditional Chinese food including roast Beijing duck cooked by noted chef Max Yan.

Relevant News in Chinese: 中国成为德国入境游第二大客源国