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For the first time, Chinese tourists have outnumbered the Japanese to become Germany's largest market in Asia, and No 2 globally, following the US.

In the first quarter of this year, the number of hotel stays booked by Chinese tourists increased by 8.2 percent over the same period of 2009, to 204,903, compared with 184,646 for Japanese tourists, and 789,507 for Americans, according to recent data from the German National Tourist Board.

Chinese tourists were an important driver of Germany's 6.7 percent growth in tourism in the January to March period.

Petra Hedorfer, chief executive of the German National Tourist Board, said the Asian market will play an increasingly important role in European tourism, so it is important for Germany to promote the country's destinations.

Germany has redoubled its promotion efforts after the German National Tourist Board placed increasing emphasis on China and held events in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai earlier this year.

The tourist board and the German Federal Railways also held a joint press conference in Beijing to announce the rail carrier's first office in China.

Promotion of Germany's tourism has reached the highest level as a Shanghai World Expo exhibitor.

With the theme "10 Reasons to visit Destination Germany," the promotion gives visitors to the Germany Pavilion a view of the nation's main attractions.

In another move, Lufthansa's first Airbus A380 will be put into use on Aug 25 for the Beijing to Frankfurt route, offering Chinese tourists the first chance to experience the new model.

Passengers on board the Airbus A380's first class and business cabins will enjoy traditional Chinese food including roast Beijing duck cooked by noted chef Max Yan.

Germany also has modern airports, including Munich Airport, which has been named the Best Airport in Europe by Skytrax, a UK-based airline and airport industry consultancy.

The beer garden at the center of Munich Airport is the only brewery at an airport in the world.

Munich is expected to receive a record number of visitors from Sept 18 to Oct 3 this year, when it hosts the 200th anniversary of its world-renowned Oktoberfest beer festival.

Questions:

1 What country is promoting itself to Chinese tourists?

2 What is Munich Airport known for?

3 What is Munich’s big upcoming event?

Answers:

1. Germany.

2. It was named the Best Airport in Europe by Skytrax.

3. The city is expected to receive a record number of visitors from Sept 18 to Oct 3 this year, when it hosts the 200th anniversary of its world-renowned Oktoberfest beer festival.

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is fluent in Korean and has a 2-year-old son.