Mega sustainable diversity at ITB ticks most boxes

The world’s BIGGEST travel show with a massive sustainable input kicks off – what’s the carbon cost?

The number of international exhibitors at this year’s ITB Berlin will be higher than ever before. More than two-thirds of the exhibitors showcasing their products and services in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, which are now fully booked up, are from abroad.

From 5 to 9 March 2014 ITB Berlin will be offering visitors a representative overview of travel products and services from around the world and of growth-intensive niche markets. At the 48th edition of the world’s largest travel trade show 10,147 tourism companies (2013: 10,086 exhibitors) from 189 countries will be represented on a display area covering 160,000 square metres.

Responsible Tourism, Adventure Travel  and Youth Travel & Economy Accommodation are also expanding.

Overall, more than 130 exhibitors from 35 countries will be represented 70 exhibitors will be represented in the segment Adventure Travel & Responsible Tourism alone.

Newcomers include Armenia, Georgia, Greenland, New Zealand, Colombia and Jordan.

For example, Serconatural from Colombia will be presenting sustainable tourism projects which aim to provide support and protection for this country’s natural environment and culture.

Detours from Jordan will be offering the experience of living in tents like Bedouins as well as ecologically responsible desert tours.

This year the Indian luxury hotel chain CGH Earth has made a conscious decision to exhibit in order to emphasise the importance of socially responsible tourism.

The same decision has been taken by other exhibitors who, in addition to hosting their national displays will also be represented in the Adventure Travel & Responsible Tourism segment.

And once again, the topic of socially responsible tourism will be a key theme. On 7 March the ITB CSR Day at the ITB Berlin Convention will be setting the tone. The leading think tank of the international travel industry will be focusing on the latest strategies, examples of best practices and the market prospects for sustainable tourism.

At the ITB Berlin Convention practical experts and leading scientists will be discussing and providing information on the latest developments. A discussion round with Tom Koenigs, a member of the German Bundestag and chairman of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, will be debating ‘Problems, causes and practical recommendations’ in connection with human rights.

For the first time a management concept has been laid out that advises tour operators on how to address the issue of human rights. A new guide will provide companies with practical tips to assist its implementation. Furthermore, at the ITB CSR Day ITB Berlin will sign an agreement committing to support human rights in tourism.

Taking place on the two stages in Hall 4.1 will be outstanding events on the subjects of human rights in tourism and sustainability throughout the show.

So, the social, economic and cultural aspects of sustainable tourism are certainly being addressed. But what about the environmental issues – in particular the massive emissions generated by such a show.

Of course ITB is doing its best. Offsets are available, the show has a carbon partnership with atmosfair, visitors can also reduce and offset their carbon footprint by making use of the free bus shuttle from their inner-city hotels to the exhibition grounds.

But is this enough?

Valere Tjolle

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