The most important fair for tourism professionals takes place in Berlin. Saudi Arabia is courting guests just as much as Israel – even though there is still a war going on.
Tuesday, shortly after nine o'clock. Taxis and dark limousines line up in front of the exhibition center in the west of the German capital. Inside, the last people adjust their kimonos, smooth their kaftans, adjust the veil on their heads. The International Tourism Exchange (ITB) has already started.
The main fair for a sector that has suffered a lot in recent years and is now on the rise again has been taking place since 1966. The booking situation for this year is good, tourism experts report. In the exhibition halls you can see in a nutshell how countries advertise themselves to the world.
The official host country is Oman. This year, however, the biggest effort is being made by an Arab neighbor who is participating for only the second time: Saudi Arabia. Men dressed in desert robes hand out some dry sweets, women in colorful scarves help operate the huge touchscreens.