Indonesia and the Silk Road to take center stage at travel show
Tourism along the Silk Road, new and trans formative hotel concepts, travel trends among Generation Y and eco travel that explores the earth’s wetlands and geo-parks are among some of the themes that will be given the spotlight at the world’s largest travel trade show in Berlin next month.
For five days in March, 113,000 of the the biggest players in the travel industry will descend on the German city at ITB Berlin where the latest in product innovation and concepts will be launched, and trends will be set.
This year, the official partner country for the event is Indonesia. Other destinations which will be getting a lot of show time include the route along the Silk Road in Asia and countries which border the Danube River.
Meanwhile, floor space at the Messe Berlin convention center will have a noticeably large presence by exhibitors from the Middle East, Asia and South America this year, say organizers.
All countries from South America will be represented this year.
Furthermore, ITB Berlin welcomes newcomer South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, while Iraq’s tourism industry will have a larger stand than last year.
Destinations such as Nepal and Bhutan, which are attracting major interest from intrepid globetrotters looking for adventure travel, are also strongly represented.
In collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization, ITB says they will also be paying “special attention” to the development of tourism along Silk Road, which connects Central and Eastern Asia and the Middle East.
In adventure travel, destinations such as geo-parks — areas of geological, ecological, scientific and cultural importance — and wetlands are poised to experience a spike in interest, while programming will also address the travel needs and desires of Generation Y, or the under-30 traveler.
Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel will open the show March 5, before the official opening March 6. The show ends March 10.