The World’s Leading Travel Show has the latest stories from the world’s leading travel trade show online in its ITB Newsroom and on ITB Berlin News.
This is where media representatives and bloggers can obtain free articles for their editorial coverage of sessions at the ITB Berlin Convention, exhibitor press conferences and presentations as well as interviews with leading industry figures.
At the trade show ITB Berlin, top decision-makers, experts and buyers from all sectors of the tourism industry come together to discuss relevant topics and current trends, to network and to do business worldwide. The video can be used free of charge for editorial reporting.
The United Nations Establishes Global Tourism Resilience Day
The United Nations has voted to create a Global Tourism Resilience Day, which will be marked each year on February 17.
The day will be used to promote a sustainable and resilient travel industry, with a focus on the potential for the sector to drive economic growth, social development and financial inclusion, in addition to environmental benefits.The UN voted on Monday, February 6 to adopt resolution 70.1 drafted by the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council in collaboration with the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre. It was backed by countries including the Bahamas, Belize, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Greece, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Malta, Namibia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Zambia.
Actively shaping change in tourism
Industry representatives discuss the latest challenges
The tourism industry is back and on course worldwide to reach pre-pandemic levels. On Tuesday at the ITB Berlin Convention, Harald Pechlaner, university professor of Tourism from Eichstätt, discussed the challenges currently facing the industry and how to deal with digitalisation, the skills shortage and a much talked-about trend, sustainability. Taking part in the event were Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Alessandra Priante, regional director, Europe, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Sören Hartmann, president of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) and Dr. Eduardo Santander, executive director and CEO of the European Travel Commission (ETC).
Even more to come from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Second best year since reunification is no reason to relax
According to the Travel Analysis 2023, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the second most popular federal state for German travellers, bettered only by Bavaria. However, this is no reason to rest on one’s laurels, explained tourism minister Reinhard Meyer at ITB Berlin 2023. Even though 2022 was the second best year since reunification there is still much room for improvement. For example, there will be an increased focus on welcoming foreign visitors to this north German destination. Furthermore transport must be made more sustainable.
Priority for climate protection in tourism
UNWTO presents a global study of the tools for measuring greenhouse gas emissions
Sustainability concepts often focus on ecological sustainability, with one of the important aspects being the need to reduce greenhouse gases. “But for every concept there is one thing in particular that we need: data obtained from readings“, explained Dirk Gläser, UNWTO sustainability expert, speaking at ITB Berlin 2023. Greenhouse gas emissions from passenger traffic account for a large proportion of the global CO2 footprint. The UNWTO has therefore been investigating the current measurement methods and instruments that are being applied in tourism.
Success in squaring the circle
Significant rise in per capita spending by visitors in Georgia
Georgia is well on course to squaring the circle in terms of tourism success: last year, at 5.5 million, tourist numbers dipped to over a third below pre-pandemic figures, however industry sales rose from 3.3 to 3.5 billion US dollars. “We want to maintain our status as an insider tip while keeping up with international competitors“, said Mariam Kvrivishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of this year’s host country of ITB Berlin 2023, on Tuesday in front of the press. She has her sights set on Europe and in particular Germany where tourism’s future is concerned.
More than palms and pyramids
Egypt presents its new tourism concept
Egypt wants to attract more tourism by expanding flight routes, bed capacity and offering travellers an even better experience. At ITB Berlin Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa outlined his concept for the sector for 25 to 30 per cent growth over the next few years. He would like to focus more on those taking individual tours as well as families. A new campaign targeting mainly 12 European countries aims to portray the country’s wide-ranging attractions.
The many sides of Malaysia
Presentation of a new campaign and brochures
At ITB Berlin representatives of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism symbolically handed over three new brochures to Malaysia’s ambassador to Germany. They present a wide range of attractions for visitors with all kinds of interests: For those in search of city tours Kuala Lumpur is worthwhile, for nature lovers there are lots of sports and adventure activities in fascinating natural surroundings, while sun worshippers can find white sands and thriving marine wildlife at the beaches of this country in southeast Asia.
Blockchain, Metaversum, ChatGPT
How is technological innovation changing the travel sector?
A packed house at the ITB Berlin Convention: on Tuesday afternoon three experts presented their assessments of the potential offered by new technologies. Caroline Bremner from Euromonitor International reported on the potential for growth of the metaverse, while Leila Summer, CEO of PlayToChange, explained how ChatGPT can suggest a travel route in just seconds. Professor Dr. Alexander Knauer from the Blockchain Competence Center at the college Hochschule Mittweida, explained that, although blockchain technologies are currently in the hype-phase, it will be two to four years before they are in practical use in the travel sector, making it advisable to become acquainted with them now.
Four countries – four tourism concepts
Tourism ministers outline their transformation strategies
How are Bahrain, Egypt, Croatia and Georgia confronting tomorrow’s challenges and how are these countries’ tourism policies paving the way for the future? That was the topic Monika Jones discussed with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairifa, Egyptian Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa, and Georgian Vice Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishivli on Tuesday at the ITB Berlin Convention. Also taking part was Croatian Tourism and Sports Minister Nikolina Brnjac. The representatives of the four countries presented four effectively different concepts.
How can companies target customers better with their advertising?
Google Tools provide planning basics and access to customer groups
How can a company find out more about its customer groups and reach travellers online, what expectations do these groups have – and how can a company target customers better with its advertising? Answering these questions on Wednesday in a keynote speech opening the Marketing and Distribution track at the ITB Berlin Convention, Michael Trauttmansdorff, director of Product Management, Travel Ads at Google, offered some valuable insights.
Security check appointments, sunflowers, self-service
BER Airport is offering passengers services for managing their time efficiently at the airport
BER Airport is putting every effort into avoiding the chaotic airport scenes of 2022. At ITB Berlin 2023, BER managing director Thomas Hoff Andersson presented three services that travellers can use to make life easier. Firstly, there is BER Runway, a new service that lets passengers book a security check time slot. Secondly, people with hidden disabilities can use a free sunflower-badged lanyard to discreetly indicate they require a little more time or assistance. And thirdly, BER Airport is focusing increasingly on self-service points.
Getting to America has never been easier
USA targets 20 per cent more tourists from Germany in 2023
With 70 nonstop flights per week from Germany it “has never been easier” to get to the USA. These were the words used by Dr. Amy Gutmann, ambassador of the United States of America, to appeal to travellers on Wednesday at ITB Berlin. Compared with the previous year, this year their numbers are expected to increase by 20 per cent. In 2022 there were 1.5 million German visitors to the USA. The target for 2024: to attain the pre-coronavirus level of some two million. With 29 exhibitors from Fairbanks to Key West the USA display at ITB Berlin 2023 presents the country as an innovative tourism nation, using a slogan slightly adapted from that of the Terminator: “We are back!“
A return to normality, but delayed
Business travel in some areas is still far below pre-pandemic levels
For business travel, the return to pre-pandemic normality has been moved back two years to 2026. Inflation, China’s economic problems and the effects on global supply chains were among the reasons listed by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) on Wednesday at ITB Berlin 2023. Basic parameters concerning business travel had also changed, said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the GBTA.
