And the Oscar for the best screenplay goes to.... ITB Berlin, a classic drama!

One may think opening the fair also has demolished a dam - and now good news is pouring into the world like water.

Or is this just a sequel of the Hollywood spectacle that ended the day before yesterday?

Well, curtain up: Yesterday we started with a preview about the fair being close to a new record - now the official figures prove it.

It IS a new record with 11,127 exhibitors from 187 countries following the call to Berlin, the highest number ever (in 2009 there were 11,098)!

What a strong brand - in particular during an economic downturn.

But let us forget about the miserable past: "The message I can pass is indeed encouraging: Since the end of 2009 it is getting upwards again", German minister of economies Rainer Bruederle yesterday mentioned happily during his speech on the ITB opening.

The minister was briefed correctly: According to current surveys, the important source markets Germany and Britain are recovering. The renowned market research agency GfK (Gesellschaft fuer Konsumforschung/society for consumer research) just published this in a study about the European tourism trends of 2010.

Bookings in late January already have caught up with the level of 2009. In Britain the trend started even earlier.

In Italy and Holland the decrease of bookings at least is declining.

One winner of the year is Turkey, among German, British and Dutch travelers it is secondary favorite destination after Spain.

The greatest popularity growth the southeastern EU neighbour experienced in England.

In Russia Turkey is even top destination, 36 percent of Russian tourists go there.


ITB 2010 partner Turkey may dance on their stand – fortunately there is no lack of space, Turkey's stand is the biggest of the fair.

Benefit goes also to an old tourism classic; Egypt: In Germany, Britain and the Netherlands the destination has won significant sympathy, in Russia and Italy the country is secondary favorite destination.

Another growing market for British tourism is Italy, GfK found out.

Dutch people show rising interest in traveling to the USA and to the Netherland Antilles.

While the industry still generally suffers from little loss, the cruising industry is still running full steam ahead: In Germany the market keeps on growing, comparable rise GfK watched in the Netherlands.

However, the superficial happiness cannot cover the hangover especially among hoteliers: With prices most down, they  here forced to sell room for record rates – but a negative one.

"This year prices for package tours are as cheap as they were a long time before", president of German association of travel agencies DRV (Deutscher Reisebüro Verband), Claus Laepple, said. Hopefully, the public do take their chance – and make themselves informed during the last two ITB days.

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