BATON ROUGE – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, along with the Louisiana Office of Tourism and 17 tourism partners, are gearing up for a mission to Germany and the United Kingdom to promote the state and the ease of travel to Louisiana through new direct flights into New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport. The delegation will travel to Germany on Monday, Sept. 25, and return to Louisiana on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
“This is the perfect time to once again promote international travel to Louisiana,” Lieutenant Governor Nungesser said. “The first year of seasonal flights from Germany is wrapping up and now is the time to start getting people excited about all the authentic experiences in our state. Additionally, the success of the British Airways direct flights from London has created the need for a fifth day of service to New Orleans each week. As we prepare for the Tri-centennial of New Orleans and the 150th anniversary of Tabasco, the favorite hot sauce of Queen Elizabeth, now is the time for a focused push in the UK.”
From 2014 to 2015, the increase in international visitors to Louisiana ranked the state second in the nation for overall growth. Similarly, New Orleans saw increased growth during the same period representing the largest increase in the nation for any city. The statistics are part of a report by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO), a section within the International Trade Administration. Statistics from 2016 will be made available when the current reporting year concludes and the data is compiled and analyzed.
“International visitation to our state has recently seen an increase of 37 percent,” Lieutenant Governor Nungesser said. “International visitors stay longer and spend more money. That is a win for the state as tourism in Louisiana brings a return on investment of $40 for every $1 spent.”
During the delegation’s time in Germany, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser will have the opportunity to meet with Consulate General James W. Herman in Frankfurt, and tour the Condor Airlines headquarters, meeting to discuss promoting the direct flights to New Orleans. Additionally, Lieutenant Nungesser will be a guest on several radio shows in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Hannover. The group will host several events to promote Louisiana’s authentic experience to travel agents, media partners, and tour operators of several high-profile German travel and tourism companies including TUI Group, America Unlimited, CRD International, DER Touristik, CanUSA Touristik, and FTI Touristic.
“This opportunity to be able to spend quality, one-on-one time with travel agents and tour operators is invaluable to the mission of increasing our ever-expanding international visitation,” Assistant Secretary Kyle Edmiston said. “On this mission, we have a great mix of partners ready to showcase what Louisiana has to experience once a Condor Airline flight arrives in New Orleans.”
Joining the Lieutenant Governor, and funding their own travel for the mission, are representatives from Louisiana Tax Free Shopping, A Chateau on the Bayou Bed & Breakfast, Airboat Adventures, Hospitality Enterprises, Hotel Monteleone/ Bienville House, Houmas House Plantation & Gardens, InterContinental New Orleans Hotel, Joieful Destination Experts, Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, Limousine Livery, Lake Charles/ Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau, Louisiana’s Northshore, National WWII Museum, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Plantation Country, Nottoway Plantation and Visit Baton Rouge.
Following their time in Germany, the delegation will travel to the United Kingdom to meet with travel agents, media and tour operators before returning to Louisiana.
