ITB Berlin 2009 has sold out with organisers expecting record numbers for this year’s show 11-15 March. Some 11,000 exhibiting companies and organisations from more than 180 countries are expected in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.
Despite the difficult economic situation around the world, in 2009 demand still exceeds supply. Messe Berlin is expecting even larger numbers of international trade visitors at the ITB Berlin Convention, the world’s largest meeting of this kind, which is taking place at the same time.Dr. Martin Buck, Director ITB Berlin: “Major international trade shows are a reliable indicator of the state of the industries that they represent. Against the background of a significant slowdown of the world economy and mainly sceptical expectations this year’s ITB Berlin is more important than ever for its exhibitors and its trade visitors. During this phase ITB Berlin will be able to fulfil its role as a networking platform and a marketing instrument.”

Among the exhibitors who will be meeting trade visitors and the public will be some from the world’s newest nation: Kosovo. The African nation of Gabon has returned as an exhibitor after an absence of several years, along with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

In 2009 the Middle East reports a continuing boom in tourism. The Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Qatar now have an even wider range of attractions and facilities. For the second time the airline Emirates is bring its spectacular stand, in the form of a globe, to Berlin.

The increasing number of travellers visiting the USA is also reflected in the plans by American exhibitors: New York and Florida will be occupying larger display areas. Germany’s federal states are coming to Berlin with great expectations this year. All available space has been booked in the halls occupied by the federal states.

One of the dominant features of this year’s ITB Berlin is the European Capital of Culture 2010. RUHR.2010 is the partner region of the world’s largest travel trade show. As the partner region the Ruhr will be planning the opening ceremonies on 10 March 2009 at the International Congress Center (ICC) Berlin and will also be represented during the fair by various cultural events and culinary delights.
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