Netherlands

The Canadian Tourism Commission is not active in The Netherlands but the country remains an important market for Alberta and Canada’s West. In an effort to further increase visitation from The Netherlands and other primary European markets (United Kingdom and Germany), and to ensure the long-term sustainability of new non-stop air service from Amsterdam to Calgary, Travel Alberta is working closely with KLM to coordinate joint marketing activities. Travel Alberta also partners with Tourism British Columbia to promote the Canada's West brand to the Dutch consumer.   

Dutch travellers go through an intensive information gathering process prior to their holiday outside Europe, and use multiple sources to gather information on their destination. Decisions about holidays outside Europe are not impulsive; most travellers book two to six months in advance. Several sources are consulted for information: Internet, travel agencies, family and friends, television programs, travel fairs, travel books and the Canadian embassy. Word of mouth also plays the role of key influencer at different stages in the information gathering and decision making process for holiday destinations.

In The Netherlands, we will reach our targeted travellers by the following channels: consumer, travel trade, media and public relations with the largest investment in the consumer channel.