The number of tourists from Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is likely to be down by around 50 percent in 2021, compared to 2019, but the EU country is aiming to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2023. The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) last week announced that from June 25 Germany will reopen to international tourists who have been vaccinated. “Germany recorded 1.6 million overnight stays from the Gulf region in 2019, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia being one of the most important markets,” Yamina Sofo, GNTB’s director of sales and marketing for the Gulf, told Arab News. “We anticipate that there will be a strong growth in interest from travellers from across the region, especially during the summer months. Germany is aiming to achieve 800,000 overnight stays from the region, which attributes to 50 percent of the 2019 figures. Germany aims to reach similar figures to 2019 by 2023,” she added. As part of its global efforts, the GNTB has launched a marketing campaign to help boost numbers from the region. “Our seasonal campaigns including ‘German.Local.Culture,’ are a key focus for us during the coming months, and form the core of our promotional efforts across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. The campaign aims to inspire travellers to journey off the beaten track when exploring Germany this summer,” Sofo said. Under the new rules, tourists wishing to enter the country must provide proof that they have received an approved coronavirus disease vaccine, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, within the previous 14 days of arrival.