It is now 20 years since the Berlin Wall fell, the Youth Travel Centre is ten years old, and the YIG Germany pavilion has been in existence for five years.

 YIG stands for Youth Incoming Germany. In 2005, when the YIG Initiative was first introduced, just 20 companies we seeking to interest international buyers in travel offers in Germany for children and young people , whereas now there are displays by 54 firms and associations from Germany's federal states and the German National Tourist Board DZT, including 37 companies.

Parallel with the YIG a section entitled "Economy Accommodation" has become established in Hall 4.1 over the past two years. This is visible proof of the vigorous expansion of youth travel to urban destinations in Germany and around the world, in connection with the boom in the availability of cheap flights.

We invite you to join in a discussion with the press
on Thursday at ITB, 12 March 2009
at 1 p.m. in the ICC/Room 9

The following will be taking part in the discussion:

• Susan Goldstein, Director of the international association World Youth, Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation,
• Henry Tesch, President of the Conference of Ministers of Culture (KMK) 2009 and Minister for Education, Science and Culture of the State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania,
• Sylvia Bretschneider, President of the Landtag (Regional Assembly) of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania,
• David Ruetz, Manager, ITB Berlin:

Information can also be obtained from the initiators of the YIG, Oliver Winter of A&O Hotels & Hostels Holding AG, and Uwe Flügel of the Berlin specialist in travel for school parties, welcome berlin tours. WYSE Travel Confederation will be providing details about the findings of a worldwide study of government policy in the youth travel sector, which has been prepared for the UNWTO.

For the first time in more than 20 years the Conference of Ministers of Culture (KMK) will be making a public statement about "School and class trips" during the ITB Berlin discussion with the press. As the senior spokesman at federal level Henry Tesch will also address the subject of international school partnerships and inter-national programmes at German schools for providing practical language-learning experience.

Afterwards, in his capacity as the patron of the YIG Teachers' Symposium, he will be available during a panel discussion in Hall 4.1 from 2 to 3 p.m. to answer questions from teachers and others from all over Germany with responsibility for school trips.