Numerous panel discussions on topical issues such as the euro debt crisis, the booming cruise industry and sustainable fuels – prominent speakers highlight new trends at the travel industry’s leading think tank – free admission for trade visitors. In 2011 a total of 11,163 companies from 188 countries attended the fair.

Ground-breaking topics will be on the agenda of tourism’s leading think tank. Next year, from 7 to 9 March, the ITB Berlin Convention will once again be taking a look at the most important trends in the international travel industry.

An exclusive Buyers’ Circle will soon ease the workload of the tourism industry’s leading buyers at ITB Berlin. As of now, buyers involved in the operations of small and medium-sized enterprises and of larger companies from the global travel industry can apply for membership of this circle.

In 2013, Indonesia will be the official partner country of ITB Berlin. Sapta Nirwandar, director general of tourism marketing of the Ministry for Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, and Martin Buck, vice president of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics, signed the preliminary agreement.

ITB Berlin is developing the dynamically expanding niche market for gay and lesbian travel – appointment to the supervisory board of IGLTA, a workshop in India at GITM, plus a dedicated event at the ITB Berlin Convention in 2012. Only recently, ITB Berlin became the first tourism trade fair to gain a seat on the supervisory board of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA).

Jamaican minister for Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, took time out from important negotiations with the travel industry at ITB Berlin, to launch the cornerstone marketing strategy for 2011 - Brand Jamaica.