Tourexpi
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has welcomed VIVA
Cruises as a new member, effective January 1, 2026. The decision was made
unanimously at the GNTB Board of Directors’ 109th meeting on November 4, 2025,
underscoring the growing strategic importance of river cruising within
Germany’s inbound tourism.
Strong potential for river cruising in Germany
“River cruises represent a segment with strong growth
potential for German incoming tourism,” said Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB.
“Destinations also benefit from the economic value added by cruise guests’
shore excursions. In our 2025 Travel Industry Expert Panel, 70 percent of
international CEOs and key accounts confirmed high demand for river cruises.
Over half of the tour operators who do not yet sell river cruises in Germany
plan to include them in the coming years. Together with VIVA Cruises, we already
presented this product successfully at the GTM 2025.”
VIVA Cruises: pioneering lifestyle on the rivers
“We are delighted and proud to be the only cruise
company among the GNTB’s members,” said Andrea Kruse, CEO and co-founder of
VIVA Cruises. “Since our founding in 2018, we have set new standards in river
cruising – with contemporary design, a relaxed lifestyle atmosphere, fine
dining, and our high-quality VIVA All-Inclusive concept. Our international marketing
has been key to our steady growth, with more than half of our guests now coming
from international markets, even on departures from Germany.”
The partnership marks another milestone for both
organizations in promoting Germany as a world-class river cruise destination
and expanding its global visibility in premium tourism.
Image
Credit: © Viva Cruises
The most interesting news
Read the News

Global cruise market forecast to nearly double by 2034
Passenger growth, fleet expansion and rising demand for premium and experiential travel are expected to drive the market to $38.5 billion
Read the News

Hotel Indigo reaches 200 hotels as global expansion accelerates
IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle brand has doubled its footprint since 2019 and has another 134 properties in the development pipeline
Read the News

Türkiye’s underwater heritage reveals ancient Mediterranean trade routes
More than 430 shipwrecks have been documented along the Mediterranean coast, while new excavations and museum projects are bringing thousands of years of maritime history to a wider audience
Read the News

Emirates launches first daily Dubai-Helsinki service
The new year-round route gives Finland its only direct connection to the UAE and opens new one-stop links to Asia, Africa, the Indian Ocean and Australasia
Read the News

WTTC and ICC join forces to strengthen tourism SMEs worldwide
New partnership targets regulatory, financial, digital and mobility barriers affecting small and medium-sized businesses across global Travel & Tourism
Read the News

Eurowings expands Middle East network with new Baghdad flights
New services from Berlin and Düsseldorf will complement connections to Dubai, Jeddah, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil and Amman in the 2026/27 winter schedule
Read the News

Costa Rica launches interactive map of natural and cultural heritage
Free bilingual platform combines tourism, biodiversity, marine science, history and geography in a digital exploration tool
Read the News

TUI Blue puts holistic wellness at the centre of Asian escapes
TUI Blue Berawa in Bali and TUI Blue Angkor Grace in Cambodia combine yoga, recovery, healthy cuisine and local wellbeing traditions with a relaxed resort experience
Read the News

SpongeBob musical to debut at sea on Royal Caribbean’s Hero
Broadway-inspired production will headline the entertainment programme when the new Icon Class ship begins Caribbean cruises from Miami in August 2027
Read the News

Radisson expands Verified Net Zero programme to major Nordic hotels
Four properties in Stockholm and Copenhagen join the programme as Radisson targets 100 independently verified net zero hotels worldwide by 2030
Read the News

Thailand links Middle East travel trade with 80 tourism businesses
Forty representatives from the UAE and Saudi Arabia met Thai suppliers after a six-day product discovery programme in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok
Read the News

Condor brings flight search and travel inspiration into ChatGPT
The German airline has launched a ChatGPT app that combines destination discovery, fare comparison and live Condor flight options within a conversational interface
Read the News

RIU repositions Riu Touareg as family resort after major renovation
The 1,181-room resort on Boa Vista has reopened with redesigned accommodation, expanded dining and a new focus on families
Read the News

Spain welcomes 12.3 million international tourists in August
International visitor spending exceeded €17.8 billion during the month, while arrivals rose 9.2% and destinations outside Spain’s main tourism regions recorded particularly strong expenditure growth
Read the News

Phuket Vegetarian Festival brings Hokkien traditions to the streets
The nine-day celebration from 10 to 18 October combines shrine ceremonies, processions and centuries-old rituals across Phuket City
Read the News

Southeast Asian travellers look beyond China’s traditional gateways
Traveloka data shows bookings to China’s emerging city destinations growing more than twice as fast as demand for Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen
Read the News

Holland America Line to add Arcadia as 12th ship in 2029
The Vista Class vessel will transfer from P&O Cruises, adding capacity for more than 2,000 guests and supporting Holland America’s fleet modernization program
Read the News

WTTC Global Summit in Malta brings together more than 100 industry leaders
The two-day event in Valletta will focus on AI, connectivity, investment, sustainability and workforce development while launching new initiatives for young talent and tourism SMEs
Read the News

Oktoberfest draws growing interest from Asian travellers
Agoda data shows strong search growth from China, India and Japan, while visitors increasingly combine Munich with other German destinations
Read the News

Tempo by Hilton to make German debut at Munich Airport Arena
The 199-room lifestyle hotel is scheduled to open in 2029 as part of the new MUNICH ARENA entertainment campus near Munich Airport
Read the News

Hyatt Centric Sapporo opens as new base for exploring Hokkaido
The 216-room property is the Hyatt Centric brand’s first hotel in Hokkaido, combining a central Sapporo location with a strong focus on regional design and cuisine