European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 31, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Berlin by Boss amps Dave Casey Alexande Platz the heart of the former East Berlin is alive again. Hot City continues to draw tourists from around Globe by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau. Hans Jurgen Binek had More than the obvious reason to celebrate in november 1989 when the Berlin Wall cracked. As director of the Berlin tourism office he watched with glee As the open Wall allowed a Bright Light to Shine on his City a Light that attracted the world. Quot Nineteen ninety was an absolute record year As far As tourism is concerned Quot said Binek. The Wall s demise and the subsequent publicity made Berlin the end place to be not just in Europe but in the world. Tourism soared. The number of tourists in 1990, the first full year of Post Wall Berlin reached 2.6 million a 20 percent increase Over 1989. And they came from across the Globe with americans leading the Way As 127,000 made an appearance in Berlin. Next was great Britain with 78,000. But nearly All european countries and of course Japan Are noted High on Binek s stat Sheet. It shows what a few thousand Magazine covers and newspaper front Page stories can do for a town especially when the reason for the attention is As positive As the end of the cold War. Quot in 1991, it dropped a Little due to the Gulf War Quot Binek said. Quot and now the number of visitors is increasing once More a slightly but it is  for the past 20 years tourism has increased about 4 percent per year in Berlin he said. Now that trend is also increasing. In Short Berlin is a hot City for tourism. And with Good reason. Even when East Berlin required special permission to enter West Berlin was filled with reasons to visit. And now with the City reunited and the Sites of the former East More easily accessible there Are even More attractions in Berlin even with the former no. 1 attraction broken apart and scattered in offices Dens and living rooms around the world. Still the Wall is an attraction. Quot the most popular thing especially with the americans. They want to see that the Wall is gone and they want to see where the Wall was Quot Binek said. The site where checkpoint Charlie the most famous of the Allied guar posts at entries to East Berlin is a popular spot As is the museum nearby that tells the Story of the attempts a some successful some not a by people to escape the East. Quot they want to see the Brandenburg Gate and All of East Berlin which is now the Center of All Berlin Quot said Binek. The former East Berlin is making its Way Back Binek said although the switch to capitalism has been a Tough adjustment for some. Quot they have to learn about marketing How to Market themselves and their products Quot he said. For example he said Many of the merchants in the former East Berlin have had to learn How to Greet customers make them feel Welcome and then help them out. These seemingly simple customs were not necessary under the former state in which Choice in the retail world was a rarity. In the Nikolai Quarter the neighbourhood hugging the Nikolai Church merchants had to learn to open their cafes and businesses on sunday to take advantage of the tourists walking through the neighbourhood. As the merchants learn and As Money pours in from investors the former East Berlin is growing new attractions. Unt Erden Linden is of course once again sprouting cafes restaurants and shops. Alexande Platz is alive again. Binek pointed out that an old neighbourhood was restored along Huseman Strasse for the City s 750th anniversary in 1987. Quot this is an attractive place with Little pubs and a lot of atmosphere Quot he said. Any news Story about the changing Berlin during the past two years has mentioned the increase in crime that has hit the City As More and More people crowd Berlin and Strain its ability to support them. Binek said crime is part of any big City and tourists can avoid it in Berlin just As they do in other cities. Quot in new York i will not go at Midnight to Central Park Quot he said Quot so i will not Send a customer in Berlin at Midnight to the darkest Corner of  common sense is the Best Way to avoid crime he said and added Quot i think this is the safest Metropolis in the  the Berlin tourism office has several offices around town to help tourists make hotel reservations and plan their visit. Offices Are at Tegel Airport the zoo train station the Europa Center on Kurfurst Tendam and Alexande Platz. A new one is due to open at the main train station. The Telephone number of the Europa Center office is 030 262 60 31 -32-33. A amps Dave Casey Hans Jurgen Binek director of the Berlin tourism office. 8 stripes Magazine december 31, 1992