In the mood for championship: Tomorrow, 7
th of March the world's largest travel trade show and tourism exhibition ITB Berlin is opening, and the fair's management teams are quite optimistic to break their record from 2011 of close to 180,000 visitors altogether and last year's more then 11,000 trade visitors again.
Where is this optimism coming from? The general economical situation of Central Europe is very good, and global expectations do mirror this. For the first time ever, the UNWTO estimates the number of international tourists to grow over one billion, a 4% growth versus 2011.
1 billion worldwide, this is quite a benchmark. Not to speak of the the financial aspects.
The impact of tourism to the world economy is still underestimated: the industry adds an average 5% to each country's BIP. Only for Germany that means 300 billion Euros per year!
"Here tourism is an economic star player", federal government secretary of economy Ernst Burgbacher. This goes for travelling as well: Germans are again world market leaders in tourism bookings. 2011 almost 61 billion Euros they spent on traveling abroad according to a German bank survey.
This year this yet imposing figure is expected to increase for another 2 or 3%. Their favorite destination was and remains
Spain, while tour operators see a significant increase in European destinations like
Turkey, Croatia and Bulgaria. Also for
Tunisia the industry has registered better bookings than last year when news about the revolution there led to a decrease in tourism.
"Where it all begins" is the official claim
Egypt starts its new tourism season, and this is more than just a hint to the Paranoiac culture – the term implies some optimistic belief good times will come again to the Nile. Will it help? Due to a very lucky coincidence just Egypt this year is partner destination of the ITB Berlin 2012, the grandest tourism fair in the world.
In fact, the decision was made years ago when no one would have had an idea what might happen in 2011. Last year, Egypt made headlines with the dramatic pictures of revolution – which on the other hand dramatically decreased visitor's figures.
Like hardly another country, tourism is one of the country's lifeline.
Every third of all jobs is depending on the industry's benefit. No wonder the biggest travel exhibition in the biggest tourism country, Germany, is extremely important for Egypt and is watched at attentively from both political and economical representatives.
The rest of the world is only a few halls away: More than 180 countries do represent their sights and highlights at the ITB. Among them are a few that decided to come back after a shorter or longer absence – and even a few showed up first time ever.
Greenland: Back to the basics is tourism in Greenland, former Danish colony and since 2009 independent to a large extent. This year the Northern Island with about 56.000 inhabitants is opening its booth at the ITB ever. Tourism plays a key role in the poor country's development plan.
Ivory Coast: After some years of absence the West African Country is showing up again in Berlin. Although there is no end to disconcerting news about riots and instable political situations there, minister of tourism Charles Atchimon Ake has announced to visit the fair.
Republic of Congo: First time ever the Central African state hat a booth at the ITB. The country is very authentic which has definitely an impact on tourism as well. Outside Brazzaville, the Capital, there are almost only mud roads. Just a few tour operators do offer package tours.
Chad: 1999 was the last year Chad showed their flag on the ITB. The long absence has been a reason from Civil War which at last 2009 came to an end when International Peace Corps marched in.
East Timor: The little state on the former 100% Indonesian island has had a six year's ITB break due to a period of unrests.
North Korea: Last year, the isolated communist country was accredited to the ITB but canceled last-minute. As they applied again, visitors may bet if the competition between shy Korean functionaries and ambitious tourism managers sees another winner – anyway the country desperately needs foreign exchange.
Stay tuned for our exclusive, news, trends, interviews, videos and photos, straight from the show floor at ITB Berlin 2012! Brought to by 4Hoteliers.com, the leading hotel & travel news portal on the web. 
