Revealed: Small German town where nearly EVERYTHING is in Arabic

The town of Garmisch has become a hit with Kuwaitis (Die Welt)

 

NESTLED in the mountains on the country’s stunning southern border with Austria is a typically idyllic German town.

But a quick walk around picture perfect Garmisch reveals how something decidedly exotic has taken hold.

The town is overflowing with signs written in Arabic, but they are not welcoming newly arrived refugees from war-torn Syria.

Instead the placards advertise shops, restaurants and attractions to an army of Middle Eastern tourists who are fuelling an economic boom in the local area.

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Cafes now serve coffee brewed the traditional Arabic way and offer halal meat. Pork – a German favourite – is even off the menu altogether in some eateries.

Even the sign on the way into the town now proudly proclaims ‘Ahlan wa sahlan!’ – which means welcome in Arabic.

As one female resident told newspaper Die Welt: “It is a little bit alienating, really. I don’t think it’s great. I’d prefer seeing tradition here.”

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One restaurant owner, whose business is booming thanks to the new tourists, said: “We don’t offer pig meat in general and only have Halal food, which means it is cut according to Islamic tradition.”

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For visitors from the Middle East, the lush countryside and stunning mountain scenery, which is dotted with ski resorts, is a revelation.

Most have never seen snow before and trips to the toboggan run and bobsled are said to be hugely popular amongst Arabic tourists.

Shop owners also report that designer sunglasses are a huge hit with the visitors and are flying off the selves.

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The situation in Garmisch is a far cry from in other Bavarian towns which have struggled to cope with an influx of millions of migrants and refugees into Germamy.

Full article: Revealed: Small German town where nearly EVERYTHING is in Arabic (Express)