Adventure tours and eco-tourism are among the fastest growing markets in the tourism sector, a trend accurately mirrored by events at ITB Berlin. In the Trends & Events Hall (4.1) a total of 123 tour operators, tourism boards and organisations representing 31 countries are presenting their latest Adventure Eco, Youth Travel and Economy Accommodation products, with information on expeditions, diving holidays and nature tours, as well as sustainable tourism. Numerous international exhibitors can be found in the Adventure Eco section in particular, among them Tourism for Peace Jenin & Gilboa, a tourism project from Israel and the Palestinian territories.
On 11 March, for the first time at the world’s leading travel trade show, a Shark Day organised by SHARKPROJECT will be taking place at ITB Berlin 2011, sponsored by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. According to a survey by the North Atlantic Dalhousie University in Halifax, over the past six years the number of deep sea sharks has fallen by 80 per cent. At a podium discussion representatives of international tourism organisations as well as the celebrity figure and actor Hannes Jaenicke, who for years has been championing wildlife conservation, will discuss ”Marine biodiversity, sharks and tourism – which is the aggressor?“ Next weekend at ITB, visitors will also be able to see the MS Haitanic exhibition and the film entitled “Hannes Jaenicke im Einsatz für Haie“.
From Wednesday, 9 to Friday, 11 March 2011, the focus in Hall 4.1 will be on the sixth Pow-Wow event. Under the slogan of ”Glaciers – from the roof to the world’s end“, the globetrotter and well-known TV journalist Mary Amiri will moderate this three-day event. At the opening ceremony on Wednesday, 9 March, artists from Mongolia will entertain the trade visitors with traditional music and acrobatic displays. This will be followed by sessions at which high-ranking international speakers will talk about glaciers and how important they are for the environment and our eco-system, as well as for tourism. On the following days at ITB, leading international experts will hold fascinating and informative discussion rounds on adventure tours, nature tours, expeditions, cultural tourism, local tourism, sustainable tourism and certification, climate change and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The focus will also be on informative presentations featuring the Himalayas, Nepal and the Pyrenees.
The main meeting place in Hall 4.1. is the large stage, where on Wednesday, 9 March, the Leisure Trend Forum at ITB Berlin will be taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. At numerous sessions experts will both discuss and demonstrate how hotel businesses and destinations can be mirrored by existing service provider chains representing the leisure industry. On Friday, 11 March, starting at 2 p.m., teachers and school trip supervisors from all parts of Germany will engage in discussions at the ITB Teachers’ Symposium, part of “Youth Incoming Germany (YIG) – the Germany Pavilion for Youth Travel“. This is the year of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, so that sports, exercise and comprehensive teaching methods will be topics featuring prominently at the Teachers’ Symposium. Bernd Schröder, the manager of the championship-winning women’s team 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, will be acting as patron. He will open the Teachers’ Symposium and take part in the subsequent podium discussion on “Travelling and comprehensive teaching methods“.
Colourful exotic countries and adventure themes at the weekend, on the open days for the general public
At the weekend, on the open days for the general public, the stage will be transformed into an entertaining venue with international groups performing music and shows. The programme includes cultural highlights from exotic countries. Globetrotter is inviting every visitor to take part in an ice-cold adventure trip to a glacier. This supplier of outdoor equipment has created a 200 square metre glacier tongue, an iceberg, and even a glacier lake with blocks of ice. Inside this authentic winter landscape visitors will be able to experience a blizzard, climb on ice, go snowboarding, or chase records by throwing snowballs. Visitors can also go fishing among the icebergs in an attempt to find the glacier lake’s hidden treasures. And inside an igloo fascinating films will be shown about glaciers and how they are changing.
ITB Berlin will be welcoming its visitors at the main south entrance with spectacularly beautiful pictures of glaciers. A big photo exhibition entitled “Living Glaciers“ pays tribute to the beauty of the famous Perito Moreno glacier, which is still growing, and shows the permanent ice on Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America. What is more, every visitor can vote for the best photo and win prizes.
