Highlights of ITB 2000

THE opening ceremonies of the International Tourism Exchange ITB Berlin 2000 (March 11 - 15) will take place on Saturday March 11 at 19h00 in the ICC Berlin, Hall 1. Italy will be responsible for the supporting programme. The travel and tourism world trade fair will be opened by the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Dr Werner Muller, and Governing Mayor of Berlin, Eberhard Diepgen, will officially welcome the more than 5 000 travel trade professionals from around the world. Also present, and stating his views about current issues affecting the international tourism industry, will be the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Francesco Frangialli. ITB 2000 highlights will include: - The ITB Congress - 'Electronics in Tourism' will celebrate its 20th anniversary (March 13-15, Hall 15.2; with accompanying exhibition in Hall 7.1b). The papers (nine half-day sessions) on national experiences, current developments and global trends in the use of electronics in tourism will be given by 47 leading international figures. The main features of this congress will include electronic marketing, electronic payment transactions, online reservations systems, online services, new trends in multimedia, online information systems and software applications in tourism. - 'Tourism - the environment and development' - An ITB initiative presenting ways to achieve sustainable tourism that is environmentally, socially and culturally responsible. 18 national and international environmental and development organisations will present examples of their work on a combined stand in Hall 7.2a (March 12-14) in the Palais am Funkturm. It will also address several areas of concern in the tourism sector including child labour and exploitation, which focuses in part on the exploitation of some 2m children worldwide according to the international organisation, Child Pornography and Trafficking in Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT); and a tourism and biodiversity workshop (March 8-11). - A Youth Travel Centre under the supervision of the international organisation Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations (FIYTO) and RUF Jugendreisen, the market leaders for accompanied youth travel in Germany - Hall 7.2a. Over 50 exhibitors from more than 10 countries. Press conference for trade visitors, March 13 at 14h00 dealing with new developments in global youth travel - 'What will the Future bring?'. The FIYTO estimates that the European youth market comprises some 125m people. (Elizabeth Sheridan)