ITB Berlin 2005 Confirms Bright Future for World Tourism

For the world travel industry, the worst of the recession is over and continuous improvement is now expected. That was the appraisal made by Dr. Christian Goke, Chief Executive Officer of Messe Berlin at the closing ceremony of ITB 2005 in the German capital.

The figures speak for themselves: 10,409 exhibitors from 181 countries and regions, and more than 142,000 visitors, Dr. Goke said before attendants to the closing ceremony of the International Tourism Exchange ITB Berlin 2005.

The world´s leading tourism trade fair is becoming increasingly international: among this year´s trade visitors more than one third, 33.5 per cent, came from abroad, a one per cent increase over the previous year.

Petra Hedorfer described Germany´s role as partner country as a “highlight” of this year´s ITB Berlin. “The presentation to the international tourism industry focused on Germany´s hospitality, its culture and its sporting interests. With the wide-ranging support of partners in the German tourism sector, as well as in business and politics, we have taken the opportunity presented to us just one year before a massive event, the Football World Cup, to draw attention to Germany as a destination”, the DZT Chief Executive commented.

In its summing up of the ITB the World Tourism Organization (WTO) made particular mention of the good mood within the industry. Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the WTO: “At this annual meeting of the international tourism sector, the world´s largest, the message emanating from the ITB Berlin is that the tsunami has failed to inhibit the growth of tourism to Asia, which continues to expand vigorously, and which has already proved, in past years, its remarkable ability to react to changes.