Reise + Camping 2017 Whetted the Visitors' Appetite for the Most Beautiful Time of the Year

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1 Essen, February 19, 2017 Final Report: Reise + Camping 2017 Whetted the Visitors' Appetite for the Most Beautiful Time of the Year Camping and Adventure Trips are Extremely Popular From February 15 to 19, 2017, Reise + Camping put the visitors in the right mood for the most beautiful time of the year. Once more, over 90,000 visitors came to Messe Essen in order to obtain information about the newest trends in mobile travel as well as about destinations from near and far. Camping as a holiday form is more popular than ever. At the fair, the visitors were busy making purchases and placing orders. Not only the established resorts in our own country and in Europe but also individual long-distance trips were in particular demand. The interest in international tourism and especially in international camping tourism increased considerably. On February 16, Fahrrad Essen started in parallel. The combination of travel, camping and cycling went down very well. "We are looking back on a very successful fair. The camping sector is booming. There is a great urge for adventure holidays. Reise + Camping has proven that it is a popular leisure fair beyond the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia," Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen, was pleased to comment. More than 97 percent of the visitors showed that they were satisfied with their visits to the fair. That is a top value, continued Kuhrt. More than half of the visitors bought or ordered something directly at the fair; one third did not rule out still making purchases in the course of their visits. Exciting Destinations: From South Africa via the Costa Brava to Scandinavia The new area entitled "International Special Trips" was very well-accepted by the public at the fair. Package holidays were yesterday. Today, it cannot be outrageous or special enough. From e-bike tours of South Africa to trips through Kamchatka, 13 exhibitors offered everything desired by the adventure holidaymaker's heart. One highlight at this year's holiday fair was the appearance of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees. No matter whether romantic fishing villages, lonely bathing bays, a fascinating mountain world or the high life in the metropolis of Barcelona - MESSE ESSEN GmbH Messehaus West Norbertstraße Postfach Essen I Germany Presse-Kontakt I Press Contact Luise Halfmann Fon + 49.(0) luise.halfmann@messe-essen.de Presse-Assistenz I Press Assistance Claudia Brügger Fon + 49.(0) Fax + 49.(0) presse@messe-essen.de Presse-Fotoservice I Press Photo Service Rainer Schimm Fon + 49.(0) rainer.schimm@messe-essen.de Veröffentlichung kostenfrei Beleg erbeten Publication free of charge Copy requested

2 the partner region of Reise + Camping 2017 showed in an impressive way that Catalonia is worth a trip. Pere Vila, Chairman of the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, summarised: "The Reise + Camping fair in Essen is one of the most important events in Germany for camping holidays. For this reason, it was a matter of course that the holiday region of the Costa Brava with its extensive range of camping on offer also had to be present here. Our operators of camping facilities in the Girona province were happy to be at the disposal of the visitors to the fair and provided them with detailed information about all the new features as well as about special products in connection with cycling and wine tourism, water sports and activities outdoors. All the different experiences, the diverse touristic products and the services which are extremely ambitious in a qualitative respect and which we can offer to the German camper public and to the visitors to the fair are the best guarantee for a unique, unforgettable holiday stay on the Costa Brava." From the South of Europe, the journey went high into the North. On over 1,000 square metres, the ScandinavianWorld presented not only exhibitors from Sweden, Norway and Denmark but also, for the first time, suppliers of trips to Finland and Iceland. The programme of lectures was a crowd puller and received very good ratings. The Diversity of Camping in Three Fair Halls The enthusiasm for caravans, motorhomes, camper vans, tents and equipment was undiminished on a high level. In Fair Halls 1, 2 and 3, the visitors found vehicles for every budget and no end of accessories which played an important role during their visits to the fair in percent of the visitors stated that they were interested in this area of the range on offer in particular - a plus of more than five percent in comparison with the previous year. The fact that camping is absolutely comfortable was demonstrated by AL-KO with the special show entitled "Comfort at the Push of a Button". Furthermore, the Technology Arena was a contact point in order to enter into discussions with the component suppliers to the caravanning industry. Platform for Awards Ceremonies Reise + Camping was once more the venue for the presentation of top-class prizes in the sector. Already on the day before the fair, the German Camping Club (DCC) and the City of Essen conferred the German Camping Prize on the Dethleffs Family Foundation. The Friday of the fair was totally characterised by outstanding camping sites throughout Europe. The DCC European Prizes in

3 Platinum were awarded to Ferienparadies Natterer See in Austria and Camping Camp du Domaine in France. Both sites have managed to maintain and improve the high standards for over ten years. This year, further DCC European Prizes were awarded to: Via Claudia Camping, Germany, Badiaccia Camping Village, Italy, Europacamping Nommerlayen, Luxembourg, Aktiv Camp Purgstall, Austria, and Camping Las Palmeras, Spain. DCC showed that it was very satisfied with the course of Reise + Camping. "As every year, DCC has presented its European Prize winners and found an enthusiastic public with the Esseners. We were often able to help with regard to camping questions and have also been able to win over many families as new members. Every year, we enjoy the good cooperation with Messe Essen and feel very much at home here. We are already looking forward to Reise + Camping 2018," according to the DCC Vice-Presidents Dieter Albert and Michael Woltmann. The coveted Nordis Travel Awards were also conferred on Friday. The marks of distinction were bestowed on outstanding Nordic destinations, travel operators from the German-speaking area (DACH) as well as, for the first time this year, websites, too. A jury consisting of experienced travel journalists as well as experts from Nordis Verlag thus acknowledged particularly innovative and eventful offerings on the subject of Scandinavian trips. "Vuokatti Safaris" from Finland won in the "Nordic Destinations" category. "Rucksack Reisen Münster" prevailed in the "Travel Operators" category. climbed the winner's rostrum in the "Websites" category. Top Marks for the Combination of Travel, Camping and Cycling On February 16, Fahrrad Essen started parallel to Reise + Camping. Campers in particular appreciate the two-wheeled vehicle on holiday in order to explore the area in a sporting way and to be mobile. 71 percent of the visitors therefore rated the combination of both fairs as very good. Die Urlaubswelt 2018 The next Reise + Camping will take place at Messe Essen from February 21 to 25, Now, 93 percent of the visitors were already expressing their intention to visit it once more. 92 percent of the exhibitors want to participate in it next year, too. Fahrrad Essen will take place from February 22 to 25, again parallel to North Rhine-Westphalia's largest holiday fair.

4 Exhibitors' Opinions Jörn Backhaus, Managing Director, Nordis Verlag GmbH: "The mood in the ScandinavianWorld was super throughout the period of the fair! The exhibitors are satisfied and the visitors whom we had the pleasure of greeting in Hall 12 were also enthusiastic about the ranges on offer. Some exhibitors already had to reorder brochures and info material after a short time in order to deal with the numerous inquiries. Moreover, that is already being reflected in the number of bookings: Never before have we been able to make as many people enthusiastic about a trip to Scandinavia as this year. Of course, one cause of this relates to the fact that we were able to complete the North of Europe with Finland and Iceland. In this respect, the interests of the visitors are varied - no matter whether active holidays, experiences of nature or highly specialised individual trips. We are already glad about providing visitors with information about trips to diverse Scandanavia again in the coming year, too." Peter Dröszler, Sales Coordinator for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Dethleffs GmbH: "All round, we are satisfied with the course of the fair. We were able to greet very many interested visitors to our booth. The numerous sales transactions speak for themselves. Saturday in particular was outstandingly well-visited. We are glad that our new beginners' caravan called 'C'joy' has gone down so well. We have presented the model in this form at a fair for the first time. Essen has a large catchment area. Therefore, Reise + Camping is an important platform for us. We are 100-percent certain to come again next year." Michael Haus, CEO Authorised to Represent the Company, Doréma Vorzelte GmbH: "We from Doréma are very satisfied with Reise + Camping On our exhibition area, we were able to greet a lot of visitors and to hold interesting sales discussions - even on the sometimes difficult working days on Wednesday and Thursday. This year, too, the fair concept is coherent and the halls are structured in a sales-promoting way: Visitors have short paths in order to find the necessary accessories for their caravans. That is providing additional incentives from which the traders are also profiting. Another factor is that Essen is generally an important location for the sector. Camping is alive in the Ruhr region! This year, products with air hose technology proved to be a particular trend amongst the visitors and

5 the media. Reise + Camping has great significance for our company and a firm place in our calendar of fairs. It is already seeded now - we will take part in it again next year, too!" Andreas Hack, ITR Afrika Reisen: "The premiere of the special area entitled 'International Special Trips' was a total success. People want to experience something special on their holidays, have individual wishes and primarily need one thing for this purpose: personal advice from specialists. We were able to offer all that here at Reise + Camping. We are glad about the great interest in our trips and the lively approval of the visitors. We will come again in 2018." Jessica Mahler, Divisional Manager for Marketing, Touristik GmbH Südliches Ostfriesland: "Reise + Camping has been a permanent fixture in our calendar of fairs for years - Essen and the Ruhr region love East Frisia! This year, too, we are satisifed with the number and quality of the visitors to our booth. We ran out of a few brochures very quickly. Merely on Friday did we have to identify a slight decline - probably due to the weather. Amongst other things, East Frisia is a popular destination for cycling holidays: Therefore, the proximity to Fahrrad Essen is worthwhile for us. Above all at the start of Fahrrad Essen, we regularly notice a visitor plus. We will probably take part in the fair again next year, too." Joachim Petry, Market Division Manager for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux, Concorde Reisemobile GmbH: "Concorde Reisemobile has been represented at Reise + Camping again for the first time in five years and is happy to have been involved with a furious comeback. North Rhine-Westphalia is an important market and Essen an important fair venue beyond the national borders. Concorde Reisemobile is looking forward to being represented again in Fairs are becoming increasingly significant as an information platform in general. Messe Essen in particular is a meaningful multiplier with its large catchment area."