Even in the year after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, KolnTourismus has achieved a continuous growth. According to the “National Department for Data Processing and Statistics”, Landesamt fur Datenverarbeitung und Statistik Nordrhein-Westfalen, a total of 1.2 million visitors to Cologne and 2.16 million overnight stays in establishments of the hotel trade had already been recorded in the first half of the year. This means a plus of 4.2 per cent in guest arrivals and of 2 per cent in overnight stays compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

As expected, overnight stays in June decreased slightly in relation to the booming number of overnight stays produced by the World Cup in June 2006. However, the number of guest arrivals in July surpassed last year’s figures by two per cent. Particularly pleasing is the rise in domestic demand: 37.7 per cent more guest arrivals from Germany and 32.7 per cent more overnight stays.

KolnTourismus Director Josef Sommer points out that these figures reflect the ongoing enthusiasm for the travel destination Cologne. “The sustained image benefit which has been created by the world cup is evident.”

When examining the countries which visitors to Cologne come from, one can clearly identify significant increases in overnight stays from the U.S.A. (+ 10 per cent) as well as from the future markets of India (+ 25.9 per cent) and Russia (+ 13.1 per cent). Rising numbers of overnight stays by travellers from the neighbouring countries of Belgium (+ 11.4 per cent), The Netherlands (+ 5.5 per cent), Austria (+ 23.3 per cent) and Switzerland (+ 3 per cent) show a further positive development.

“We have been aiming at sustaining the high level of overnight stays generated by the World Cup – these achievements have even exceeded our expectations”, comments Sommer the semi-annual result.

He emphasises the particularly pleasant increase in American guests: “Thanks to the Continental Airline flight connection and our intensified activities on the US market, we have gained, despite the weak Dollar, a two-digit growth.”

Like in the first quarter of 2007, Cologne stands out clearly from the overall result attained for North-Rhine Westphalia. The cities and regions recorded a mere average rise of 0.8 per cent in guest numbers and 0.2 per cent in overnight stays. With an average bed utilisation of 44.5 per cent, Cologne occupies the top rank of North-Rhine Westphalia.