GERMANY is intent on defending its title as the world’s most travelled nation.
The latest studies forecast consistent and high demand and cautious optimism at international level. The current financial and economic crises around the world are clearly not affecting people’s desire to travel.
The ITB World Travel Trends Report 2012/13 indicates that in 2013 international tourist arrivals will again grow in the order of two to four per cent.
“Held from March 6 to 10, ITB Berlin will be the marketplace for (re)negotiating deals for the coming travel season. We are delighted that the Middle East will again be represented in the German Capital in large numbers. Countries from the entire North Africa and Middle East region are again flying their colours in halls 21, 22 and 23. Hall 22 and 23 are already booked up,” said David Ruetz, Head of ITB Berlin.
“The prospects could not be better for good business. ITB Berlin 2012 attracted more than 113,000 trade visitors, many more than the previous year (of whom 39.7 per cent came from abroad), and reported a higher volume of business among exhibitors,” he added.
Overall, 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries represented every segment of the international travel sector. The business atmosphere at the newly established ITB Buyers’ Circle, which invited hand-picked, high-profile buyers from around the world, got tremendous response and plans are underway to expand the forty-seventh edition of the world’s leading travel trade show.
As the world’s largest tourism event of its kind, next year’s ITB Berlin Convention will also feature exciting new innovations. From March 6 to 8, numerous internationally recognised experts, scientists and travel trade professionals will discuss the latest travel industry trends and exclusive, empirical survey findings.
Visitors can look forward to new event formats such as live voting, workshops and educamps.
Visitors to ITB Berlin will also be able to attend the PhoCusWright@ITB Travel Technology sessions free of charge. This offers the wider public a chance to find out first-hand about internet and mobile technology topics and other technology trends of the future. Taking place for the fifth time, the ITB CSR Day satisfies a growing demand for a discussion on corporate social responsibility issues in the tourism sector. Visitors to the convention will find out how CSR projects can be sensibly planned and implemented on a long-term basis. The on-going success of the Future Day and Hospitality Day means that they are also set to continue.
Azerbaijan has been named the Convention and Culture Partner of ITB Berlin 2013, while Indonesia will be the Official Partner Country of ITB Berlin.