DRMumbai: India’s stellar show at the world’s largest travel trade show, ITB 2018, in Messe, Berlin, Germany, was nothing short of a master stroke. After bagging the ‘ITB Berlin 2018 – CBS Best Exhibitor Award’ (Asia/Australia/Oceania), the icing on the cake came with the tremendous success of the Incredible India’s new campaign film ‘Yogi on the Race Track’. Launched on March 7, 2018, the film has been viewed over seven million times online and the figure is growing with each passing hour.
K J Alphons, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Government of India, who led the India Tourism delegation to the 52nd ITB Berlin, received the award. Highlighting the country’s tremendous tourism potential, Alphons spoke at length about the country’s 5000-year-old civilisation, beautiful beaches, backwaters, deserts, coastline, Himalayas and immense possibilities for millennials who are seeking adventure.
The India Tourism delegation also comprised senior officials, including Suman Billa IAS, Joint Secretary, India Tourism and Prasanth Nair IAS, Private Secretary to Union Tourism Minister. Mukta Dutta Tomar, Indian ambassador to Germany also visited the India Tourism Pavilion, which had over 50 co-exhibitors comprising tour operators, hoteliers, Air India, IRCTC and state tourism departments. Besides, over 25 Indian stakeholders participated by booking space outside India Pavilion. The Indian delegation met and brainstormed on the opportunities offered by international tourism with multiple stakeholders, media persons and opinion makers.
Addressing the media, the Minister said that the tourism sector in India has been registering continuous growth which is significantly higher than the world average. He said e-Visa continues to be a game changer for the tourism sector and is now available for nationals of 163 countries and allows visits for business and medical purposes. Dr. Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor, Federal Republic of Germany; Dr. Michael Frenzel, President, Federal Association, German Tourism Industry (BTW); Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin; Dr. Christian Göke, CEO, Messe Berlin; Manuela Schwesig, Minister President, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; Norbert Fiebig, President, German Travel Association; Rainer Baake, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) were among the chief guests of ITB Berlin’s opening ceremony.
From March 7 to 11, more than 10,000 companies and organisations from 186 countries and regions exhibited their products to visitors in 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the partner region, organised the opening event, which for the first time left a zero-carbon footprint.
The event debated important trends and current issues in accordance with the industry’s future needs. With a five per cent increase in business volume at ITB Berlin 2018 compared to last year, and excellent business being forecast for the coming months, the global travel industry is well on course for a record year. Minister Alphons released the ITB Berlin 2018 special issue of Destination Reporter – India Travel Magazine in the presence of Mukta Datta Tomar IFS, Suman Billa IAS and Jose Kunnappally, Editor, Destination Reporter at the India Pavilion on March 7.
