FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Two years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan is making a big push to win back German tourists, who are still avoiding the country because of concerns over radiation.

Visitor numbers from Germany, the world’s biggest spenders on foreign holidays in 2011, fell 35 percent between 2010 and 2011, and in 2012 did not recover as much as other markets, Tokyo tourism officials said in Frankfurt this week.

By Victoria Bryan

(Reuters.com) – Two years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan is making a big push to win back German tourists, who are still avoiding the country because of concerns over radiation.

Visitor numbers from Germany, the world’s biggest spenders on foreign holidays in 2011, fell 35 percent between 2010 and 2011, and in 2012 did not recover as much as other markets, officials said in Frankfurt on Thursday.

FRANKFURT, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Sales of Nivea creams and
lotions in emerging markets such as Brazil and Russia helped
German group Beiersdorf counter a weak climate in
Europe and post a 4.7 percent rise in full-year sales.

Emerging markets are a key battleground for European makers
of personal care and household goods seeking to make up for
stuttering growth at home.

FRANKFURT/LONDON Jan 23 (Reuters) – German travel group TUI
AG has decided against an offer for the rest of its
majority-owned British unit TUI Travel, saying it was not
attractive at current share prices and dashing hopes of a deal
to cut costs.

TUI Travel, Europe’s largest tour operator, said last week
it had received an approach regarding a potential nil-premium,
all-share merger with the German company, which owns 56.4
percent of its shares.

DUESSELDORF, Germany, Jan 22 (Reuters) – German retailer
Douglas Holding AG said Christmas sales fell short of
its expectations after consumers stayed away from stores until
the last minute, checking out deals online instead.

The comments from the seller of perfumes to jewellery
underscore the fiercely competitive nature of the holiday season
in austerity-hit Europe, marked by retailers fighting over
shoppers’ dwindling budgets with discounts and offers.

FRANKFURT, Jan 16 (Reuters) – German retailer Metro
is to scrap its consumer electronics venture in China,
once trumpeted as an engine of future growth, after meeting
unexpectedly strong competition.

The decision is the latest setback for an international
retailer in the world’s most populous country, where groups like
Best Buy, Kingfisher and Home Depot have
struggled after underestimating local and online rivals.

METZINGEN, Germany (Reuters) – German fashion house Hugo Boss (BOSSn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) is feeling confident for 2013, even in crisis-hit Europe, thanks to some tricks it has up its well-tailored sleeve to entice customers and take more control over how its suits are sold.

Although the group foresees a slow start to 2013, it is optimistic for the rest of the year, Chief Financial Officer Mark Langer told Reuters in an interview.

METZINGEN, Germany (Reuters) – German fashion house Hugo Boss is confident it will outperform the luxury market in 2013 thanks to a robust U.S. business and an expected uppick in China later in the year, its finance chief told Reuters.

“What we expect is an improvement over the course of the year,” Mark Langer told Reuters in an interview at the group’s headquarters in the small German town of Metzingen near Stuttgart. “I’m more cautious for the first quarter.”

FRANKFURT, Dec 20 (Reuters) – With record low interest rates
providing little incentive to open a bank account, canny Germans
are choosing a more glamorous place to put their money this
Christmas – jewellery.

Demand for diamond rings and gold watches is also being
fuelled by an uncertain economic outlook, which is making
shoppers in Europe’s largest economy seek out gifts more likely
to retain – and possibly increase – their value.

MANNHEIM, Germany (Reuters) – Morale among German analysts and investors improved sharply in December on the back of encouraging U.S. economic data, fanning hopes that Europe’s largest economy will avoid recession this winter.

The unexpectedly upbeat survey from the ZEW think tank on Tuesday followed data that has shown exports – the traditional engine of Germany’s economy – losing momentum, industrial output tumbling and unemployment nudging higher.