Breaking Travel News reporting live from ITB Berlin 2014

March 7 is considered CSR Day at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show. A high-caliber program will feature representatives from the tourism industry and government, who discuss concepts, best practice examples, and the potential profitability of sustainable tourism.

As part of this event, Green Globe member, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), will host the Barrier-free Tourism Day.

“Tourism should be accessible to everyone,” said Olaf Schlieper, GNTB’s Innovation Manager. “Demographic change and the associated needs and increasingly aging society, combined with the strong correlation between age and disability, have made a deep impact and have raised awareness to the issues of inclusiveness and accessible travel. During the Barrier-free Tourism Day we will present the topics of inclusiveness and barrier-free travel to a wide audience from the travel industry and media. In addition, this will be a good opportunity for tourism policy makers and key decision makers in the industry to learn about business opportunities associated with this trend and develop a better understanding of the issues involved.”

The GNTB is renowned for their sustainability initiatives, and it is the first national tourist board worldwide having earned Green Globe certification. The Green Globe Certification standard assesses sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses, based on the combined three pillars of environmentally-friendly practices, social responsibility, and economic profitability.

ITB Berlin understands and encourages corporate social responsibility as an overarching concept for sustainable corporate development in tourism. It utilises its key position to actively encourage research and science, and to engage in a dialogue with companies in their efforts to create economically, socially, and ecologically responsible products and services.

The Barrier-free Tourism Day will take place on March 07, 2014, at Hall 7.1a and 7.3. The program is part of ITB Berlin Convention, the leading travel industry think tank.