A Great Success: Hannover has More Overnight Visitors Than in Any Year Since the EXPO

Hannover Recorded 1.9 Million Overnight Stays in 2010, 6.4% More Than in 2009 and More Than in Any Year Except the EXPO year 2000

HANNOVER, Germany, March 9, 2011 - It was a record year for the post-EXPO period: more tourists came to
Hannover in 2010 than for many years past. With some 1.93 million overnight
stays and 1.11 million arrivals, more people visited Hannover than in any
other year since the EXPO year 2000, when around 2 million overnight stays
were registered.

"This is a great success for us," said Hans Christian Nolte, Director of
Hannover Marketing and Tourism (HMTG), after presenting the figures at the
ITB in Berlin. "Particularly in view of the volcanic ash problem during the
HANNOVER MESSE in April and the relatively few trade fairs that took place in
2010 overall, it is a sensational result."

Altogether, 115,662 more overnight visitors were registered in Hannover
in 2010 than in 2009. Also noteworthy is the long-term upward trend in
overnight stays: in 1999 the figure was around 1.1 million, 11 years later it
has risen by more than 70%.

This upswing in tourism also makes a positive impact on Hannover's
economy: on the basis of a study by dwif-Consulting, HMTG calculates that
overnight visitors spent some EUR382 million in Hannover, with 65% (EUR248
million) going to the hotel and catering sector, 20% (EUR76 million) to the
retail trade and 15% (EUR57 million) to services.

The increase in overnight visitors is also reflected in the sales of the
"experience packages" HMTG offers for events such as the International
Firework Competition. Sales of these packages generated 5,717 overnight stays
in 2010, as against 4,245 in 2009.

One factor in the growth in overnight stays in 2010 was the enormous
expansion in the number of foreign tourists visiting the city. There was a
year-on-year increase of 17.5% in visitor arrivals from abroad, and of 8.9%
in the number staying overnight. The largest contingent were the British,
followed by the Dutch and the Swedes. But the number of German visitors
increased too: overnight stays were up by 5.7% year on year, and arrivals by
5.5%. On average, visitors stayed in Hannover for 1.7 days.

"Hannover is a green city with lots to offer, including highlights such
as the Herrenhausen Gardens, Germany's most spectacular zoo, countless
top-notch cultural events and plenty of opportunities for shopping," says
Nolte, "and we have succeeded in communicating this both in Germany and
abroad."

Another factor contributing to the increase in overnight visitors was the
expansion in the flights available to and from Hannover's Langenhagen
Airport, where "Germanwings" commenced operations in 2010. Furthermore, the
number of trade fair visitors has recovered after the recession.

For 2011, HMTG is planning a further expansion of its marketing
activities abroad. Hannover is to be promoted not only in the Netherlands,
but also in Sweden, Belgium and Denmark.

As this will coincide with a busy year for trade fairs, HMTG Director
Nolte is convinced overnight stays will increase again in 2011. "We are
expecting to break the EXPO record this year," he declares.

Further information at www.visit-hannover.com

    Press contact:

    Julia Sellner
    Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH
    Bahnhofstrasse 6/7
    30159 Hannover
    +49(0)511/123490-13
    presse@hannover-marketing.de

Press contact: Julia Sellner, Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH, Bahnhofstrasse 6/7, 30159 Hannover, +49 (0)511/123490-13, presse at hannover-marketing.de .