Visitors flock to Berlin to celebrate fall of the Wall

There was an influx of foreign visitors in Germany's capital city this week as it celebrated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The city's tourist board revealed that more than two million people visited to mark the occasion, setting a new record.

Around 2,800 journalists were accredited to attend the main celebration at the Brandenburg Gate, which also attracted hundreds of thousands of Berlin residents and foreign travellers.

Burkhard Kieker, chief executive of Berlin Tourism Marketing, said: "Innumerable spectators watched the ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate live on TV. These moving images have made an impact and prompted a desire to find out more about Berlin.

"The appeal of Berlin as a site of freedom, as a focal point of European history and a city where people can live together in a climate of tolerance and openness will continue to grow in the future."

Mr Kieker also highlighted that steadily rising visitor numbers are being reported despite the economic crisis, suggesting that "the world loves this new Berlin".

Posted by Penny, 12 November 2009 11:52

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