“If you like Munich, you’re not in good hands with us in Cologne”
The image of Cologne is clearly well received outside of the cathedral city, says Dr. Jürgen Amann, Head of Cologne Tourism.
Cologne is considered an event city. There is always something going on here. Now in Cologne Carnival, but hardly a weekend goes by when something isn’t set up in Cologne’s squares or party people from the surrounding area don’t take over the city. That suits the city, which likes to present itself as sociable, diverse and cosmopolitan. Cologne is just the joker among the big cities.
Not everyone agrees with that. Institutions such as the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce or associations such as the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Associations criticize that Cologne is more than an event city where there is only a party Civic community in the old town again and again. Where is the focus on 2000 years of culture or the economic importance of a metropolis like Cologne? THEY demand a different, above all uniform line, with which the city should present itself.
Jürgen Amann: “Cologne will be accepted as a great city”
One of those responsible for Cologne’s external tourism marketing is Dr. Jürgen Amann, Managing Director of Cologne Tourism. A Franconian who has been living in Cologne for three years. Before that he was managing director for city marketing in Dresden. A look at the current website shows where the marketing of Cologne tourism goes: “Cologne is a feeling” and “Fall in love with Cologne”. A deja vu? There have already been a number of marketing attempts aimed at the open-hearted attitude towards life in our city. However, none of these have led to the desired goal of making Cologne shine. How then, some Cologne residents ask themselves: dirty corners on our tourism magnets such as the cathedral or Permanent construction sites at our cultural buildings. The facts are obvious to everyone; Cologne feeling or not.
“The bait has to taste good to the fish and not to the angler,” replies Amann. “Our task is the external view of Cologne and that is positive. Cologne is accepted as a great city. There is a lot on offer here and the openness in this city is an important unique selling point. This is actually something that tourists don’t find to the same extent in other cities like Hamburg or Munich.”
Tourism boss Amann: Culture in Cologne is more than high culture
Since sentimentality does not seem to be as pronounced among the Franconians as it is among us Rhinelanders, one can say: the man who goes to the Cologne cathedral looks, has a different view of Cologne. The analysis of well-known market research institutes in tourism revealed: three quarters of all activities that guests undertake in Cologne are cultural activities. “Our goal is to improve and strengthen the perception of Cologne as a cultural location.” For Amann, culture is more than high culture like opera and drama and he lists: “the rock concert in the Lanxess Arena with top international stars, the popular Andy Warhol exhibition, c/o pop or the City Leaks Festival. Culture has a completely different approach here in Cologne. It’s more accessible.”
Amann also states: “Cologne is not everyone’s darling. And that’s why we have to raise our profile towards those who like us. We shouldn’t waste energy targeting those who don’t like us. “Perhaps Amann is right, there are people who find Cologne unattractive and we Cologne residents are often too critical of our city. He calls for more healthy self-confidence in dealing with this criticism.
Anyone who likes Munich and likes to stroll along Maximilianplatz is not in good hands with us in Cologne
Whether a negative representation of Cologne, as in the nationwide press to the Procedures on 11.11., the tourist attractiveness of the city a pity? “The critical reporting in this case doesn’t bother me,” states Amann. In general, the following applies to him: “It falls on deaf ears with those who like Cologne. And when it comes to those who don’t like Cologne, we don’t have to give a damn. We have to have that much self-confidence as a city of over a million people and say: If you like Munich and like to stroll along Maximilianplatz, you’re not in good hands with us in Cologne. Cologne has other strengths. That is the attitude towards life that you have in Cologne and that is reflected in many offers.”
- 24RHINE-Guest author Claudia Hessel is the chief presenter of RTL West – and a die-hard Cologne native. As Chairwoman of the Board, the TV journalist heads the Cologne Forum for Culture in Dialogue and is active in the Cologne Press Club on a voluntary basis. This article comes from the newsletter of the “Kölner Presseclub”, which you subscribe here be able
Are this attitude to life that we Cologners have, paired with the variety of cultural offerings, the decisive marketing factors that make guests want to come to Cologne? I myself am always surprised that the outside view of our city is better than the inside perspective. Cologne actually has a high appeal. Nevertheless, in the end the question of a uniform picture remains. Because how does that fit together: On the one hand, an event city with a lot of feeling and on the other hand, it is also about the perception and status of the metropolis of Cologne, which is an important hub of the economy and a reliable location for science. Munich also manages to be taken seriously as a metropolis, despite the Oktoberfest party and breweries. Why not Cologne too? (ch/IDZRNRW)