Northern Netherlands: An international tourist destination

Since the beginning of the year the European Tourism Futures Institute has been commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce North Netherlands to develop product-market-partner combinations for North-Netherlands as aninternational tourist destination. So far, the North is primarily a domestic destination, with in 2011 only 16% of its tourists coming from abroad. Mainly from Germany (57%) and Belgium (12%). However, the Chamber of Commerce sees international tourism potentially as an important pillar for the economy.

Especially because the Wadden area has received the UNESCO status a few years ago and the airstrip of Groningen Airport Eelde will be extended in 2012/2013 to accommodate low cost airlines like Ryan Air. As soon as the news of the airstrip extension was aired, Ryan Air signed contracts for flight connections with Milano (Italy), Barcelona (Spain) and Marseille (France) - and more connections will follow. The study entailed an extensive desk research, conducted with the help of students BBA Tourism management at Stenden university o.A.S. and a group of international interns, interactive sessions with entrepreneurs and tourism stakeholders in the region, and interviews with experts directly and indirectly associated with tourism.

On Monday August 27, the results of the project were presented to the regional press. You can find the latest press releases at http://www.kvk.nl/nieuws/er-kan-meer/.
The presentation given to the press, the booklet ‘Er kan meer’ (‘There are more opportunities’), the research report (both in Dutch) and some statistics can be downloaded at the website of the Chamber of Commerce:http://www.kvk.nl/lokale-informatie/noord-nederland/sectoren/toerisme-noord/

To read the full article of 'Eigen Bedrijf' click here.
http://www.etfi.eu/site/download/0YeSS29cr5wJ 

Links to the TV and RADIO recordings and newspaper articles at:
Omrop Fryslân
RTV Noord
RTV Drenthe
Dagblad van het Noorden
Groningern internet Courant
Frieschdagblad
Pretwerk
Oldambt
Groningen dichtbij