Spotlight on four major challenges of global travel industry at ITB Berlin Convention

Thursday, November 22, 2018

ITB Berlin Convention visitors will deliberate on topics revolving around the four major challenges facing the global tourism industry. These include the imminent threat of runaway climate change, outdated forms of transport, over-tourism crises and a threefold change in customer demands.

Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention from March, 6 to 9, 2019 is free for exhibitors, trade visitors and the media.

Senior figures from politics and business, and leading scientists will closely examine the latest topics and pressing issues through lectures, discussion rounds and workshops.

Visitors in the newly introduced Deep Dive sessions can dwell on the Convention’s key topics in depth in small groups. For trade visitors and exhibitors at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is included in the ticket to the event.

World’s leading scientists will spell out the effects of global warming and climate change in the keynote sessions. One of the leading climate scientists who would share his perspective at ITB- Berlin is Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim Schellhuber. Policymakers and decision-makers related to tourism industry will discuss possible solutions and present best practices that can contribute to environmental sustainability.

Transportation systems form the chassis of tourism. Pioneers of innovative transport and tourism ministers will discuss Future Mobility at tourism destinations so that travel can be made easier, cheaper, and sustainable.

The ITB Berlin Convention visitors will discuss the measures to tackle overtoursim in cities and rural destinations. Adam Goldstein, vice chairman, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD and the CLIA’s future chairman in2019, will talk about how the cruise industry intends to deal with overtourism in the future. The role of digital technology to combat overtourism will also be debated.

The fourth key topic is the threefold change in customer demands.  Destination managers, the hotel industry and carriers now have to satisfy non-material luxury demands. The definition of luxury is changing and several sessions will have presentations on the latest findings on forward-looking business models and lessons that have been learned.

Forward-looking business models must be tailored to individual needs and be available via digital booking channels – that is luxury in its modern form.

Under the rapidly progressing segment Technology, Tours & Activities (TTA), there will be Sessions, workshops and keynote speeches to show ITB participants how new technologies and apps are changing booking habits. The ways in which in-destination services are being used and how they are driving the digitalisation of products will be presented.

In the Adventure Travel Hall (4.1), an exclusive exhibition area will complement the topic TTA. The ways in which travelers choose their destinations has changed significantly too. Country’s politics are increasingly influencing people’s choice of holiday destinations. Discussions with ambassadors will highlight how political decision-makers are dealing with this situation.

Climate change, innovative forms of transportation, overtourism and changing customer demands are the key topics at the ITB Berlin Convention.

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