ITB Berlin 2013 was by far the world’s largest meeting place of international tourism policy decision-makers and business leaders. The German chancellor Angela Merkel, the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, representatives of the sector Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the area Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in addition to greater than 100 ministers of tourism and state secretaries, met in Berlin to assist shape the long run for growth within the tourism industry.
Dr. Christian Göke, COO Messe Berlin: “Once again, ITB Berlin has kicked off the travel season worldwide. No other place on the earth gathers such a lot of leading representatives from the non-public and public sector. It is where the tone is determined for the way forward for travel for 1000000000 people. The rise in international buyers is proof that ITB Berlin remains an important market for the worldwide travel industry.“
From 6 to ten March 2013, 10,086 exhibitors from 188 countries presented their services in display halls that were fully booked up. Overall, some 110,000 trade visitors came to Berlin, of whom 43 per cent were from abroad. This year there has been a slight increase in buyers from the united states and the center East. Exhibitors reported holding quality talks and sealing more business deals.
The ITB Berlin Convention registered record levels of attendance. a complete of 21,000 took part within the 200 lectures, discussions and workshops, 25 percent greater than in 2012. Social Media and Mobile Travel Services proved to be major visitor attractions. The matchmaking event for bloggers involving exhibitors met with an incredibly positive response.
Visitors thronged the halls at the Saturday of the show. Greater than 60,000 members of the public came to determine concerning the wide-ranging information on offer from exhibitors and providers of niche market products. For the primary time, visitors on the weekend were ready to book their tours directly at ITB Berlin. A poll among visitors revealed that one in three intended to book a visit.
Big success for the partner country Indonesia
The participation of Indonesia, this year’s partner country, at ITB Berlin 2013 was spectacular and featured greater than 300 dancers, musicians and performing artists from Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Papua, Jakarta and Java. Besides showcasing its natural wonders, the world’s largest archipelago shined the spotlight on seven other aspects of the rustic: culture and traditions, nature and eco-tourism, leisure sports, cruises, gastronomy and shopping, spas, wellness and MICE events. International trade visitors and most people were capable of sample the country’s culinary delights and revel in its age-old tradition of spas at the stand of Indonesia on the show.
Esthy Reko Astuty, Director General of selling, Ministry of Tourism and artistic Economy: “We are extremely satisfied with the way in which ITB Berlin 2013 went and are very proud to were the show’s partner country. We had excellent opportunities here to showcase the range of our country: the assorted cultures, the wonderful thing about our natural landscapes and the special those who live there. The joint appearance of the German chancellor Angela Merkel and our president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on the opening ceremonies was renewed confirmation of the great relations that exist between Germany and Indonesia. We felt very welcome and honoured by the visits of many official representatives on our stand in addition to by the big interest shown by the international press. We came to Berlin with near to 50 per cent more exhibitors than in 2012 and will say that we’re very satisfied.”
Márcio Favilla, Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships, UNWTO: “I felt very inspired by the fantastic opening ceremonies and the German chancellor Angela Merkel. It was a big moment when Germany’s head of presidency made the relationship between tourism and creating jobs and growth. By contrast backdrop, UNWTO is worked up to be interested by this partnership between Indonesia and Germany. We are hoping to construct on our long-standing and positive relationship with Germany. In my opinion it was the only opening event I actually have ever seen at ITB Berlin. The whole guests were in a position to experience a small portion of the big progress that was made, witness the cultural wealth of Indonesia, and sense how close relations are.“
Dr. Michael Frenzel, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW): “The past few days at ITB Berlin have renewed and boosted our confidence within the months ahead. i’m happy to mention that the mood among exhibitors and visitors at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds was very positive again. The result of numerous surveys and forecasts presented during ITB also gave us cause for optimism. People’s want to travel continues to stay high.
Once again, ITB Berlin showed that modern strategy of communication can indeed make things easier in lots of ways and will thus benefit our industry. However, there isn’t any substitute for face-to-face meetings. It was precisely these personal meetings and this relation-building that ITB Berlin made possible, at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and at numerous evening events after the show. Again, ITB Berlin provided the platform for the worldwide tourism industry to interchange information, conclude deals and cultivate business relations. Vast numbers of most people took the chance at the weekend to determine more in regards to the wide-ranging services and products that the worldwide tourism industry has to supply, including ideas for his or her next holidays. For 5 days the halls at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds were again the meeting place of the realm of international tourism.“
Jürgen Büchy, President of the German Travel Association (DRV): “2013 began well for the travel industry. Proof of which might be present in the positive mood during the last few days and inside the travel bookings over the 1st months of this year. We predict this year’s ITB to again set the tone for a successful year in tourism by stimulating further growth on this sector. The signs are good, because German citizens remain keen to travel. Travel destinations which might be traditionally popular among Germans will benefit especially, among them Greece, which has good possibilities of celebrating a comeback. Yet again, ITB has confirmed its role as an indispensable international meeting place for tourism experts and enthusiasts. Even as it provides a fantastic opportunity to spotlight and debate trends and to set the tone for the long run.“
High level of media attention and political interest
Around 6,000 accredited journalists from 80 countries and a few 250 bloggers reported on events at ITB Berlin. 350 politicians and diplomats from Germany and abroad were present on the show. The president of the Republic of Indonesia and the chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany opened the world’s largest travel trade fair. Besides 98 foreign delegations, Thailand’s Princess Ubolratana Mahidol also attended the show. 77 ambassadors from world wide, 47 foreign ministers and diverse foreign state secretaries were also gathered. Federal Minister of Transport, Building and concrete Development Peter Ramsauer, Federal Minister of financial Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel, State Minister for Economics, the Infrastructure, Transport and Technology Martin Zeil, in addition to Berlin’s Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit, came to determine what the travel industry needed to offer.
The UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Summit and the Africa Forum at the KAZA beacon project also attracted the notice of international politicians.
The next ITB Berlin will happen from Wednesday, 5 to Sunday, 9 March 2014.
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