A strong partnership

Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 11 April 2016: The visit to Weeze Airport began with a guided tour of the airport. Managing Director Ludger van Bebber and Holger Terhorst, Head of Marketing at Weeze Airport, gave the visitors a fascinating insight into the workings and operations of a regional airport. They were able to follow the entire handling process, both in front of and behind the scenes at the airport, and discover the interplay between the various stakeholders, such as the airline, the control tower, air traffic control, refuelling, air traffic management, as well as the authorities, including the Federal Police, Customs and the District Government. After touring the individual airport buildings and terminals, they were taken by shuttle bus across the tarmac, where they were able to watch passenger aircraft taking off and landing at close quarters.

The group then gathered for an in-depth discussion, during which all participants reviewed the projects they had carried out together to date and exchanged new ideas for future collaboration. “The partnership with Weeze Airport enables students from Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort to gain an in-depth insight into the inner workings of a regional airport through numerous excursions. In addition, the airport supports us in carrying out projects or taking part in the International Tourism Fair (ITB) in Berlin,” says Pascal Helfer, a student on the “Sustainable Tourism” course at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Furthermore, the airport regularly sets students practical challenges, which they work on and implement as part of the annual practical workshop, such as developing an event concept. Furthermore, specialist lectures by the airport’s managing director, Ludger van Bebber, and the head of marketing, Holger Terhorst, complement the semester programme for the “Sustainable Tourism” degree programme.

“The collaboration with Weeze Airport is particularly valuable because it provides practical insight into one of the most important aspects of tourism – transport to the holiday destination – using the airport as a real-world example. This includes guest lectures by Mr van Bebber as well as tours of the facilities in Weeze. Furthermore, this collaboration also demonstrates to students the importance of regional developments for tourism in the Lower Rhine region,” explains Prof. Reiser.

Ludger van Bebber emphasised: “Our partnership has developed very well. We maintain a regular exchange of knowledge and ideas with the prospective tourism graduates. Through our collaboration and joint projects, such as the university’s presence at the world’s largest tourism trade fair, ITB, we are promoting the public image of Rhein Waal University as well as that of the airport.”