Romance Writer puts Bath on the Map for Germans

 

In Britain, few may have heard of Rosamunde Pilcher, but in Germany, the former Mills & Boon writer is a household name. The serialisation of her novels for prime time German TV has become an institution and created romantic images of a 'quintessential England' that Germans long to visit. For Bath, where filming for a new series is currently underway, this is good news for the visitor economy.

• Great Britain receives almost 3 million visits a year from Germany, worth some £1.2billion. 

• 27% come to the South West – the biggest proportion of any region outside London 

• Germany is the second most valuable global outbound market 

• Germany continues to have a comparatively strong economy and a buoyant travel market 

This will be a strong year for travel to the UK from Germany, with the legacy of the Olympics resulting in growing number of overseas tourists coming to the country. Bath is well placed to capitalise on this, with 36 direct flights now flying in to Bristol Airport and a direct connecting bus service.

Bath Tourism Plus has been working hard in Germany: we have been made presentations and held meeting with travel writers and tour operators in key German cities and have been represented at Germany’s biggest corporate business event. We have also hosted a number of influential trade representatives in Bath and introduced them to local hotels and attractions. Already we are receiving feedback that there is a noticeable increase in Germans visiting Bath this year.

The influence of Bath being featured in a Rosamunde Pilcher TV series should not be underestimated. These series are shown on national German TV at peak Sunday viewing times, watched by many millions of Germans who gain inspiration to visit. VisitBritain, the national tourism body, recognises the effect that Rosamunde Pilcher has on German visits to the UK. For Bath to be featured is great news and something that should reap rewards for the city’s visitor economy.