Page content

Press Release

February 24, 2022

Georgia: The Official Cultural Destination of ITB Berlin 2022

As the Convention & Culture Partner, Georgia is showcasing its wide-ranging cultural heritage and natural attractions – In 2023 it will be the official host country of the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show

In 2022 Georgia is the Convention & Culture Partner at ITB Berlin, and in March it will introduce itself to a wider online audience as the official Cultural Destination of the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. This is the next phase in the three-year partnership that was announced in March 2021. Last year, Georgia already fascinated visitors as the Adventure & Sustainability Partner of ITB Berlin. This year it will play a significant role, including at the opening press conference and at the ITB Berlin Convention (8 to 10 March). Georgia will be represented at a session on March 9th, at 2 pm, at which the representatives of Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) will talk about the cultural diversity of Georgia. In 2023, when the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show takes place live again on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, it will be the official host country.

With its wide-ranging cultural heritage and natural attractions Georgia, which has a population of 3.7 million, is of immense value to tourism. Its culture draws on many influences, and it spans a unique bridge between Europe and Asia. Both this year and at the next ITB Berlin, Georgia will present its culture, history and art as well as an architectural heritage dating back more than 1,300 years. In Georgia, as in many other countries, sustainability is an increasingly important topic. Bordering on the Black Sea’s east coast, it boasts a pristine natural beauty in many parts, spread out across more than 40 nature reserves. The country’s mountain ranges are taller than the Alps, with Mt. Schkara the highest peak (5,200 metres).

image
Photo-Georgia-Ushguli, Svaneti

More photos can be downloaded here: Photo N1 Tbilisi and Photo N2 Tbilisi.

Georgia is also famous for its hillside monasteries, of which several are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Furthermore, since 2001 Georgian polyphonic singing has been on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Other attractions include the country’s wide-ranging cuisine and a wine-growing tradition that dates back more than 8,000 years. All this has made Georgia and its capital Tbilisi, founded in the fifth century, one of the region’s most important travel destinations. Before the pandemic it attracted more than 9.3 million international visitors annually – about three times the country’s population.

“With this year’s ITB Berlin we are part of a virtual and global platform, through which we can spread our message to the world. No other event of this kind manages that, particularly in these times“, said Medea Janiashvili, Acting Head at Georgian National Tourism Administration. “As the Cultural Destination and future host country, we want our tourism strategy to receive long-term funding. We are convinced that tourism will be an enduring factor in the success of our country, people and economy. The partnership will also help to underline and further Georgia’s role as a meeting place of Europe and Asia.“

“We are really looking forward to welcoming Georgia at this year’s ITB Berlin. For many years, the country has impressed with a spectacular rise in tourism services – it is a unique travel destination that offers visitors a wide range of experiences, adventure and impressions“, adds David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin. “ITB and Georgia both benefit significantly from the partnership with the Georgian National Tourism Administration. Its work and success show how development in the tourism sector can change even a small nation.“

For more information on Georgia please visit: https://gnta.ge/ and https://georgia.travel/.

This year, the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show ITB Berlin takes on a new format. Along with the ITB Berlin Convention, which will be held as an entirely virtual event from 8 to 10 March 2022, the new concept features the Digital Business Day on 17 March, where buyers and exhibitors can exchange views and generate successful business on a user-friendly networking platform. In spring and late summer, two B2B networking events which ITB Berlin plans to hold at two different European host destinations, will round off the programme.

Information for the media and bloggers:

ITB Berlin Convention: Attendance is free, but you must register online in advance – www.itb.com//tickets/.

Digital Business Day: press accreditation is required –itb.com/press/accreditation. Upon your application being approved, as of Tuesday, 15 March 2022 you will automatically receive a personal email giving access to the Digital Business Day.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. The ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held in the period originally scheduled as an entirely virtual event on the new brand website itb.com. The World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) is official “overall sponsor” of the ITB Berlin Convention. On 17 March the Digital Business Day will give the industry an opportunity to exchange views and do business in a virtual setting from anywhere in the world. As a virtual industry marketplace, it is a further addition to the ITB brand family and rounds off the trade show concept. With its new concept, ITB Berlin is planning a total of two in-person satellite events in various markets in summer 2022. 3,513 exhibitors from 120 countries were represented at the virtual edition of ITB Berlin NOW 2021 for the duration of the event. Some 65,700 users visited the new online platform, around two-thirds of whom were from abroad. In 2019 around 10,000 exhibitors from 181 countries displayed their products and services to 160,000 visitors, including 113,500 trade visitors. Additional information is available at www.itb.comand from the ITB Social Media Newsroom

Join the ITB Press Newsroom on LinkedIn.
Become a fan of ITB Berlin at www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin.
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com/ITB_Berlin.

You can find press releases on the internet at www.itb.com under the section heading Press / Press Releases.