Booking Levels Remain on a Roll at ITB Berlin 2008

The outlook is exceptionally good for the ITB Berlin as final preparations are under way for an event which between March 5 and 9 will be taking place for the 42nd time.

“Compared with 2006 the number of bookings at the ITB Berlin 2008 has remained consistently high. The world’s largest travel trade show will live up to its reputation as the industry’s leading international platform,” said ITB Senior Manager David Ruetz.

The focus will be on the Dominican Republic, the partner country at this year’s ITB, which is organizing the opening ceremonies and will have exciting products and services to show both trade visitors and the general public.

Overall around 11,000 companies from 180 countries and territories will be exhibiting at the ITB Berlin 2008, and more than 100,000 trade visitors are expected to attend. Last year close to 70,000 members of the general public thronged the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

This year exhibitors showing everything the tourism industry has to offer will again be occupying a display area around 160,000 square meters in size. They will have products, services and information about eco-friendly travel on display in Hall 4.1, for example at the stands of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Tourism Watch, or Atmosfair at the Anders Reisen forum.

Holiday and business travel will again be a growth market in 2008, and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) anticipates a four to five per cent increase in growth over last year. The markets in Asia, the Arab countries and several Eastern European states are particularly dynamic.