Organizers cancel the ITB trade fair as a face-to-face event

Created: 12/16/2021, 12:41 PM

“Welcome to ITB Berlin” is written on a sign above the entrance to Messe Berlin.

© Paul Zinken / dpa / archive image

After the Green Week, another leading trade fair as a presence event in Berlin was canceled due to the corona crisis: The ITB tourism fair will not take place on site in March, but will be replaced by two larger online events, Messe Berlin announced on Thursday.

"We very much regret this situation," said ITB boss David Ruetz.

"The latest look at the corona situation and the associated tightening of the rules, however, leave us no other choice."

Berlin - The national and international exhibitors and visitors need clarity and planning security before the winter break.

Instead of the big event on site, the economically hard hit tourism and travel industry is now to meet online in March.

Initially, the "ITB Berlin Congress" is planned, which will be streamed live from the exhibition grounds.

At the “Digital Business Day” on March 17th, the participants will then have the opportunity to exchange ideas on digital exhibition areas and do business with each other.

Last year, due to the Corona crisis, the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) was organized exclusively online and only for a specialist audience.

In spring 2020, the ITB was canceled five days before the planned start due to the outbreak of the corona pandemic.

In the previous year, there were up to 160,000 visitors on the five days of the fair with around 10,000 exhibitors.

Many consider the ITB to be the "largest travel agency in the world".

For the badly ailing tourism industry, it is the most important leading trade fair of the year.

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The corona crisis continues to affect the trade fair location Berlin.

The important public agricultural trade fair Green Week was only canceled at the end of November.

In view of the force of the fourth corona wave, there will be no major events in January and February, Messe Berlin announced at the time.

The fruit trade fair Fruit Logistica is also affected;

the international trade fair will be postponed from February to the beginning of April.

dpa