Closing Report ITB 2000
March 15, 2000
With its many exhibitors, continued high attendance by trade visitors and the increasingly important emphasis on
information technology, the ITB Berlin 2000 again demonstrated why it is the worldwide leader in its field. In
his statement, Gerd Hesselmann, President of the DRV Deutscher Reisebüro und Reiseveranstalter Verband e.V.
(German Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators), confirmed: "As expected, this was an e-commerce
ITB, in the widest possible sense. It was concerned not only with the position of the travel agencies, tour operators
and service providers, but also with suppliers in the various destination areas".
As the Asian financial crisis recedes, and against the background of an ongoing boom in business in the US and
positive economic developments in Europe, the international tourism industry continues to expand. Exhibitors at
the ITB 2000 made full use of the opportunities that it provides for presenting new ideas, and newly developed
products and forms of travel to trade visitors from all over the world. According to the Secretary General of the
World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Madrid, Francesco Frangialli: "The emphasis that the ITB 2000 places on
information technology and specialised markets such as youth travel and cruises indicates that travel and tourism's
world fair not only keeps up with new trends". He continued: "it effectively points the way for the future
development of our tourism industry".
The international tourism industry continues to expand. Forty six per cent of exhibitors (1999: 45%) reported signing
contracts during the ITB 2000. Attendance by trade visitors remains as high as ever.
A total of 8,808 exhibitors and 92 additionally represented tourism companies and organisations from 175 countries
and territories, representing every aspect of the international tourism industry, occupied an overall display area
of 152,000 square metres.
Total attendance at the ITB 2000 exceeded 116,274 (1999: 111,108), of whom 60,000 were trade visitors (1999: 60,000)
from every continent.
More than 6,500 journalists from 98 countries and territories came to this year's ITB Berlin, a figure that corresponds
to that of last year.
Almost half of all exhibitors signed contracts
As revealed by the survey conducted by an independent market research organisation, 46 per cent of exhibitors stated
that they had signed contracts during the ITB 2000. They reported conducting business in the following segments
of the market: holiday/recreational travel (65%), business travel (24%), incentive travel (23%), educational travel/study
trips (16%), travel to meetings/congresses (14%), adventure travel (13%), travel technology (10%), other forms
of travel (8%), travel for health purposes/to health resorts (7%), sport (6%), and other contracts signed (7%).
Questioned about the results of their participation in the fair, 85 per cent gave a positive reply. Based on their
many contacts with the international tourism industry, well over half of them expect very good to good follow-up
business.
The USA, which is among the largest exhibitors, reported a successful ITB Berlin, and mentioned the keen response
among trade visitors and consumers in particular. Despite the strong dollar, business results were good.
Spanish exhibitors were just as positive in their assessments, reporting that "business at the fair went well,
and for some exhibitors from Andalusia it was 'very good'". Business activity on the first of the trade visitors'
days resulted in a satisfactory number of new contacts and a strengthening of existing contacts.
There was widespread mention of the professional nature of the business contacts established at the ITB Berlin.
Exhibitors reported signing contracts with travel trade professionals from the following countries/regions: Germany
(75%), other members of the European Union (42%), Central and Eastern Europe (20%), elsewhere in Europe (18%),
North America (10%), South America (7%), Middle East/Central Asia (5%), Africa (5%), East Asia (4%), Australia/New
Zealand (4%) and Central America/Caribbean (4%).
The current economic situation in the tourism sector is regarded as very favourable by ten per cent, and as favourable
by 61 per cent. More than half of them expect the economic situation in the tourism industry at the beginning of
2001 to be better than it is at present.
In the opinion of the exhibitors the current trends in vacation travel are as follows: short breaks (39%), economy
travel (31%), last-minute travel (25%) individual travel (25%), long haul travel (23% and city tours (20%).
Already 87 per cent of exhibitors have announced their provisional intention of attending the ITB 2001.
34 per cent of trade visitors came from abroad
Among trade visitors 34 per cent came from abroad; most came from Central/ Eastern Europe (47%), European Union
(27%) and elsewhere in Europe (9%).
Trade visitors represented all the main areas of the tourism industry, in particular tour operators (25%), travel
agencies (25%), hotel companies (12%) and tourism organisations (11%). The functions of trade visitors in their
respective companies included in particular those of senior management and of marketing and sales. Eighty three
per cent play a decisive, contributory or advisory role in their companies' purchasing decisions.
Sixteen per cent of trade visitors reported signing contracts, the largest single sector being that of "vacation/recreational
travel" with 39 per cent. Contracts were also signed in the following sectors: incentive travel (22%), business
travel (16%), conference/congress travel (13%), adventure travel (12%) other forms of travel (12%), travel technology
(12%), travel for sporting purposes (11%), educational/study trips (8%), travel for health purposes/to health resorts
(5%) and other types of business (22%).
During the ITB 2000 contracts were signed with exhibitors from the following countries and regions: Germany (50%),
Africa (24%), elsewhere in the European Union (18%), Central/Eastern Europe (17%), North America (17%), Australia/New
Zealand (16%), elsewhere in Europe (16%), Eas Asia (16%), Central America/Caribbean (15%), South America (13%)
and Middle East/Central Asia (11%).
In addition 61 per cent of trade visitors reported making new contacts during the course of their visit to the
ITB. More than 60 per cent of trade visitors expect these contacts and discussions to result in further negotiations
or business transactions after the fair.
ITB Travel Technology
"Extremely high quality among trade visitors" was the assessment by the 134 companies participating in
the ITB Travel Technology section. These presentations were taking place for the first time at the ITB 2000, and
occupied four halls. With this event Messe Berlin is responding to the growing importance of the subjects of e-business
and information technology. Surveys of the exhibitors revealed that companies involved in technology and business-to-business
benefited in particular from a concentrated display, which was of particular importance to trade visitors.
Tasso von Heintschel, managing director of Sabre Deutschland: "This year we noticed a substantially increased
demand for modern IT solutions at the ITB Berlin. The combination of traditional information technology and e-commerce
is a particular attraction for companies in the travel sector."
Christoph von Zabiensky, head of the Business Unit Distribution and Marketing and a member of the board of START
AMADEUS GmbH: "The ITB 2000 was the most successful fair for START AMADEUS GmbH. There was particular interest
in internet applications and in tools for increasing productivity in travel agencies, for example the web-based
START access, sales and distribution software such as BESTTRAVEL and AMADEUS Travel Choice."
"We are continuously signing agreements" reported the head of marketing for WorldRes, Jenny Naylor, and
André Derksen of Travek24.com is also delighted with the response.
ITB Electronic Congress
Main theme: e-commerce
This was the twentieth year that the ITB Electronic Congress was held, and interest was greater than ever. This
congress has become an established feature of the supporting programme of the ITB Berlin, and has developed into
an event with an international reputation.
Compared with the previous year the organisers, TMS Tele-Marketing-Service GmbH reported a sharp rise in the number
of participants at the ITB 2000 to over 1000. The nine sessions attracted highly qualified visitors from home and
abroad, consisting of senior management staff and decision-makers. Forty per cent of the speakers and presenters
came from outside Germany, most of them from the USA.
This year's congress focussed on the subject of e-commerce, which formed the main topic at the discussions held
during the congress and during the ITB 2000 as a whole. Participants were particularly interested in the subject
of "web marketing".
ITB Tourism Studies Centre acquires a stronger profile and more widespread acceptance
The three main aspects of the ITB Tourism Studies Centre met with an even better response among visitors to the
fair this year.
Firstly, the international mixture of exhibitors representing universities, technical colleges and other training
and advanced training establishments from the public and the private sector proved to be a magnet for people entering
the tourism sector. Especially on the weekend there was a great deal of interest in the range of information and
services on offer from almost 60 exhibitors from eight countries.
Secondly, even greater use was made of the Forum at the centre of Hall 5.3 for papers, presentations and a dialogue
between representatives of the tourism industry and newcomers to this sector. With twelve events on a variety of
topics, the Forum fulfilled its claim to be an effective platform for communication and contacts. The Project Exchange,
involving tourism companies and students, and the "Come together" with prominent representatives from
politics and business, promoted a dialogue with the public and aroused spontaneous interest. The award of the Tourism
Studies Prize, which has become a traditional feature and a highlight of the ITB Tourism Studies Centre, is organised
by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tourismuswissenschaft e.V. (DGT).
There was also a very encouraging response to the third aspect, the series of papers. These were given in the ICC
Berlin (Hall 14.2) for the first time, and included the launch of a new international congress on "Progress
in Tourism Research".
Good response to specialist topics
The response by the media and trade visitors revealed a very positive attitude towards the concept of the ITB Youth
Travel Centre. The exhibitors in this hall unanimously agreed that there is a growing awareness of the subject
of youth travel. Other segments of the market, i.e. "Airlines", "Cruises" and "Travel
by Senior Citizens - Travel Services", which were presented jointly for the first time, also attracted a keen
response among trade visitors and the general public.
88 per cent of the public attending the ITB are planning vacation trips
Some 88 per cent of the public at the ITB stated their intention of undertaking a holiday trip this year. For 69
per cent of them a firm decision has already been made about the destination for their main holiday. More than
half of the public at the fair who have decided on their destination have already made their reservations, while
87 per cent are considering a trip, based on the information and suggestions obtained at the ITB Berlin.
Among the general public at the ITB 2000, the majority of those planning a holiday trip are attracted to southern
Europe, especially Spain, Italy and Greece (26 %), while 14 per cent are considering Germany as a destination,
and a further 11 per cent have their sights set on northern Europe, e.g. United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Long haul
destinations are also under consideration, for example in North America (12%), Asia (10%) and Africa (10%), by
people planning their main holiday.
Among the general public almost all obtained a positive overall impression of the fair, and 83 per cent have provisionally
decided to attend the ITB 2001.
Supporting programme of the ITB 2000
The supporting programme of the ITB 2000 consisted of almost 300 individual events, including 82 events making
up the Tourism Experts' Forum (TEF)/Special Meetings, 114 press conferences / discussions with the press, and 97
awards ceremonies, presentations and receptions.
A total of 124 ministers, deputy ministers and under-secretaries of state as well as 75 ambassadors attended the
International Tourism Exchange ITB Berlin 2000.
The International Tourism Exchange ITB Berlin 2001 will take place from 3 to 7 March.