ITB WORLD’S LEADİNG TRAVEL SHOW

BERLİN –Eight countries bordering the Danube provide information on holidays at the world’s leading travel trade show – guided tours for trade visitors and the media – prize competition for the public – ITB Berlin Convention features debate on political visions and tourism on the Danube
From 6 to 10 March 2013 at ITB Berlin the eight Danube countries will be hosting numerous activities showcasing the opportunities for tourism along Europe’s second-longest river. This is the second year that Germany, Austria, Hungary, the city and region of Bratislava, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova will be presenting the region’s cultural diversity and a wide range of opportunities for holidaying on the Danube. Thus from 6 to 8 March, on the days reserved for trade visitors, both they and the media can take part in guided tours of the stands of the eight countries on the Danube. Among other events the ITB Berlin Convention will feature a discussion round on “Destination Danube – from a political vision to market-ready tourism opportunities.“ On the Open Days of ITB members of the public can take part in a competition and will have a chance to win a cruise on the Danube. The activities of the Danube countries at the world’s leading travel trade show are sponsored by the Danube Competence Centre in Belgrade.

Dr. Martin Buck, the director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin: “Cooperation among the countries on the Danube has created huge prospects for tourism in this region. The many activities hosted by the Danube countries at ITB Berlin, in which trade visitors and the public can take part, point the way ahead for tourism in this region and will attract the attention of large numbers of holidaymakers and tourism experts.“

From 6 to 8 March trade visitors and journalists taking part in the guided tours of the stands of the Danube countries can find out about the wide-ranging opportunities for holidaying in this region. On 6 March this year’s ITB Buyers Circle will also be devoting an event to the topic of the Danube. Admission to this event is free for the members of the global travel industry’s exclusive buyers’ circle and for the guests of the Danube countries. At a business matchmaking event they can also exchange information on the latest market developments and prospects for this region. On 7 March from 12.45 to 1.30 p.m. at the ITB Destination Days, part of the ITB Berlin Convention, the focus will also be on the Danube. At this event involving EU members and travel industry decision-makers the topics will range from a political vision to the business prospects for tourism in the Danube region. Examples of best practices will highlight the ways in which cross-border tourism can succeed.

Members of the public interested in finding out more about the Danube region will have the opportunity to do so on the Open Days at ITB on 9 and 10 March. “Passports to the Danube“ will be handed out at the entrances to the exhibition grounds. Visitors can obtain stamps from the stands of the Danube countries and holders of a fully stamped passport will be able to take part in a prize draw. The first prize is a cruise on the Danube.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2013 will be taking place from Wednesday, 6 to Sunday, 10 March, and from Wednesday to Friday will be open to trade visitors only. Parallel with the trade show, the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest travel industry event of its kind in the world, will be held from Wednesday, 6 to Friday, 8 March 2013. More details are available at www.itb-kongress.com. Azerbaijan is the Convention & Culture Partner and Russia the Olympic Partner of ITB Berlin 2013. The Basic Sponsors of the convention are the World Tourism Forum Lucerne, Studiosus and Tourias. ITB Berlin is the world’s leading travel trade show. In 2012 a total of 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries displayed their products and services to 172,000 visitors, who included 113,006 trade visitors.