Events, Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

From today, exhibitors at ITB Berlin 2024 can register their stand at the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show, which next year will be taking place live from 5 to 7 March on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Parallel with opening for registrations, ITB Berlin is also launching a new online portal which exhibitors can use to make all preparations for their participation. Full details can be found on the exhibitor portal of ITB Berlin 2024. Companies who decide to register early on the new online portal by 1 August 2023 can also take advantage of favourable Early Bird rates.
“Following this year’s successful return of ITB Berlin we are pleased to already be giving exhibitors the opportunity to register for 2024. Discussions with our customers have given clear signs that we can expect high demand. That is why we advise our customers to register soon, so they can take advantage of Early Bird rates and make sure of the best places in the halls“, said Deborah Rothe, Exhibition Director, ITB Berlin.
The new exhibitor portal is the first place to head for participation in ITB Berlin. In addition to reserving their own stand, main exhibitors can also register co-exhibitors and make service bookings for their participation in the show. Following stand registration, a confirmation message will be sent with additional details. After the deadline of 1 September 2023 the ITB team will plan the hall layout and shortly afterwards send suggestions for hall allocations. Immediately after accepting their allocation exhibitors will be sent an official order confirmation by ITB Berlin. The web shop for all service orders is available from autumn 2023. Information on prices and further details can be found here: ITB Berlin – Stand registration.  https://www.itb.com/en/itb/stand-registration/
Registering early is worthwhile
ITB Berlin rewards those who register early with attractive Early Bird rates. This applies to all registrations received on the exhibitor portal by 1 August 2023. A detailed price list can be found on the website of ITB Berlin.ADVERTISEMENTStructured layout by region and segment
In spite of its size and the wide range of products and services shown by more than 180 countries and territories, the hall layout at ITB Berlin is clearly structured. In addition to the geographical layout by destination, there are also divisions by market segment under important tourism headings. They include Business Travel, MICE, Travel Technology and Tours & Activities (TTA), Cultural Tourism, LGBTQ+ Travel, Youth & Adventure Travel, Responsible Tourism, Medical Tourism, Luxury Travel and Careers.
Detailed information on the segments can be found under ITB Berlin Segments. https://www.itb.com/en/trade-show-brands/segments/

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UNWTO’s Members from Asia and the Pacific met as recovery from the impacts of the pandemic on tourism in the region steadily accelerates. According to UNWTO data:
Worldwide, twice as many people travelled internationally in the first three months of 2023 than in the same period of 2022, taking global tourism back to 80% of pre-pandemic levels.For Asia and the Pacific, however, international arrivals got back to 54% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the quarter.Recovery across the region is expected to accelerate following the re-opening of China to tourism. China was the world’s biggest tourism source market in 2019. Reflecting the significance of the moment, a high-level delegation from UNWTO visited China in February to mark the official re-opening.
“It is no exaggeration to say that, over the past year, all eyes in global tourism were on Asia and the Pacific,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “Asia and the Pacific plays a key role in the state of our sector. It is a top source market, a hub of tourism innovation and home to many of the world’s leading businesses and most exciting destinations.”
Demonstrating Cambodia’s strong political support for UNWTO’s mission, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with the Secretary-General to discuss the steady acceleration of tourism in the region after the pandemic, while emphasizing the sector’s vital importance for sustainable development of tourism in the country and across the wider region.
UNWTO welcomed a participation to the joint Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia Joint Commission, including 15 Ministers, Deputy Ministers of Tourism and Ambassadors, and with 25 countries represented. The Meeting was held in conjunction with the 55th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP), the 59th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CSA), the UNWTO Conference on International Code for the Protection of Tourists and the UNWTO Affiliate Members Roundtable.ADVERTISEMENTAsia and Pacific Members Support UNWTO PrioritiesMember States were provided with an overview of UNWTO’s achievements guiding tourism forward, based on its Programme of Work and current priorities including:
Education: Of the 300 education programmes certified by UNWTO’s Ted.Qual initiative, 160 are offered in Asia and the Pacific, to help tourism professionals grow in their careers. To support youth empowerment, UNWTO is also launching national versions of its Students League, with China currently developing its own edition.Investments in Tourism: Fostering the implementation of sustainable investment frameworks for the promotion of tourism investments and job creation in a post-pandemic world was one of the main objectives of UNWTO’s Executive Training Programme in the Republic of Korea last November. And in Phnom Penh, UNWTO invited Members to join the 2023 World Tourism Day celebrations (27 September), to be held around the theme of “Green Investments”.Sustainability: UNWTO announced that the Batanes Tourism Observatory in the Philippines has become the newest member of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), with an institution in Japan set to follow soon.Advancing the International Code for Protection of TouristsAhead of the Commission meeting, UNWTO held a special conference on its International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT). Here:
Cambodia, the Maldives and Indonesia became the newest signatories to UNWTO’s International Code for the Protection of Tourists.UNWTO’s Member States across the Asia and the Pacific region adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration on the ICPT, promoting its implementation to ensure clear, transparent and efficient frameworks to protect tourists as consumers to foster confidence in travel.Affiliate Members RoundtableUnder the theme “Public-private cooperation at the core of tourism sustainable development”, discussions focused on the importance of finding mechanisms to reinforce the dialogue between all tourism stakeholders and showcased tangible examples of initiatives and projects implemented by Affiliate Members to foster sustainable practices in the tourism sector.
Looking AheadIn line with UNWTO’s statutory obligations, Members from East Asia and the Pacific nominated China, Indonesia, Japan and Republic of Korea to represent the region on the UNWTO Executive Council.
The two Commissions for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia also agreed that:
The 36th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia will be held in Cebu, Philippines in 2024.World Tourism Day 2025, to be held around the theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” will be hosted by Malaysia.

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It’s been an exciting couple of months for Weeva as momentum gathers around the new digital sustainability management platform built FOR the tourism industry, BY the tourism industry.In April, MD Julie Cheetham and Sustainability Content and Support Lead Nwabisa Mjoli were delighted to accept Weeva’s first Responsible Tourism Award for “Addressing Climate Change” at WTM Africa. The new, disruptive data management tech is also making waves internationally – making it to the last three finalists from thousands of applicants for both the UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge and the Business Travel Awards Europe for “Achievement in Sustainability: data and reporting”.
Weeva was also excited to sponsor the Sustainability Stage at the We Are Africa Open House in Cape Town last month, which included a special Africa edition of the “Funny Old World” podcast hosted by eco-guru Juliet Kinsman (Sustainability Editor) and media pundit Simon London.In this bonus WAA episode they drew interesting insights from both experts and new voices in sustainable travel on topics including:
⚡ Why you cannot shame the luxury traveller into being more sustainable
⚡ How to spot the difference between marketing ploys and genuine action
⚡ Tell don’t sell — why stories matter in today’s media landscapeADVERTISEMENT⚡ The lessons luxury tourism properties can take from manufacturing lines
Julie Cheetham, Managing Director of Weeva, also presented and facilitated an interactive sustainability masterclass at the Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda (STAS) conference alongside Dr Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, Director of The Long Run, hosted at the Serena Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa, Kenya from 8-9 June 2023.
Users will be able to produce impact reports for their tour operator and travel agent partners backed by real data.  You can view the demo video on weeva.earth, sign up for the newsletter and follow weareweeva on LinkedIn, Facebook,  Instagram and YouTube.

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OurAfricaTravel organisers Storm Napier and Allie Hunt
The success of the 2023 edition, held in February was due in no small part to the collaboration of various industry partners, including Wetu, ATTA, The Africa Hub, Nightsbridge, Atmosphere Marketing, Inspirational Places and Umlingo Travel PR. This spirit of ubuntu and partnership is what makes this virtual show such a success, in addition to its B2B nature, affordability in both time and money, accessibility due to it being virtual, and having a carbon-neutral footprint.
This year’s show attracted 186 exhibitors and over 440 buyers and media from around the world. The platform facilitated over 6,500 meetings, 44,192 networking chats, and received more than 85,000 profile views. Feedback from participants has been very positive, affirming the continuing importance of virtual shows on the tourism events calendar. An African-focussed show of this size gives everyone a platform and voice to connect, rather than being lost in the noise.
“ OurAfrica.Travel has once again proven that connecting on a virtual platform is now part of our day-to-day business practice and is the most convenient and opportune way to keep in touch with tourism industry players from around the world”, said organisers Storm Napier and Allie Hunt.”
CAUSES FOR IMPACT
OurAfrica.Travel is committed to driving sustainable tourism and giving back to both community and conservation projects. This year, 18 worthy causes were given a spotlight during the show, as participants were invited to nominate their favourite charities and grassroots projects.  We are delighted to announce that Tuk South ForRangers and Uthando are our winners for 2023 and will be receiving cash donations shortly.OurAfrica.Travel would like to thank all the worthy causes nominated for the vital work they do in Africa including Chefs with Compassion, Conservation South Luangwa, Dambari Wildlife Trust, Giraffe Conservation Fund, Global Sojourns Giving Circle, Good Work Foundation, HERD, How Many Elephants, Ingoma Choir, Meal For Two Project, Mukambi Community School, Nourish Eco Village, Onguma Anti-Poaching Unit, Seahorse Protection by ParCo, The Plaster House and The Rhino Momma Project.ADVERTISEMENTFor more information about the OurAfrica.Travel virtual trade show visit https://ourafrica.travel/.

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This month, London will play host to a brand-new Korean festival connecting Korean culture and landscapes. The festival celebrates both the Visit Korea Year 2023-24, and the 140th anniversary of relations between the UK and Korea.Korea NOW, taking place on Saturday 10 June, will transport visitors to Korea through a first of its kind immersive installation at Tottenham Court Road’s Outernet London. From bucket list travel inspiration to mouth-watering Korean food, live music and art installations in 360-degree Ultra HD, visitors can immerse themselves in all things Korea.
Free to join, the captivating installations will feature bespoke digital artworks curated by seven Korean artists: STUDIO ARTECH, AHN GRAPHICS, LED.ART, Lim Yong-hyun, Lee Lee-nam, Lim Chang-min and 2GREY. Members of the public will be able to enjoy K-beauty demonstrations by Beauty Play, music by the world-renowned Korean band MUTO, and K-Pop dance performances, along with delicious Korean cuisine and more. There will be the opportunity for visitors to win a dream trip to Korea for two.
The digital art exhibition can be viewed in the Now Trending room, Now Building room and Now Arcade area at Outernet, London’s most immersive entertainment district, which boasts the “world’s largest LED screen deployment”. St. Giles Square will be transformed into a Korean market hosting vendors offering food and drink, music, art, beauty, travel inspiration and more.
Outernet London and St. Giles Square, Charing Cross Rd, London, WC2H 8LH
Free Admission: Saturday 10 June, 11am-11pmADVERTISEMENT

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Celebrate Pride Month: experience the magic of colourful Pride festivals here in Thailand, supporting and celebrating the LGBTQIAN+ community. Join the Spectacular Pride parade at Central World shopping center – one of a leader of the celebration of the Pride festival in Thailand, JVs with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand, partners from government and private sectors led by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Galderma Thailand, Muse by Metinee, Bangkok PRIDE and Tiffany’s Show Pattaya Co., Ltd. to roll out the great celebration of THAILAND’S PRIDE CELEBRATION 2023 – ‘PRIDE FOR ALL’
PRIDE HAPPENING – the rainbow phenomenon throughout June.
The Biggest Pride Parade – waving rainbow flags in eight branches nationwide led by ‘Proud to be Pride’ at Central World with the show ‘Fly High In The Sky for Pride’ and Fashion Parade that gathers over 500+ models together with the ‘This is my look’ Parade from Galderma (Thailand) to express self-expression with confidence and charm. Followed by the sensational ‘Pride Concert’ by Thailand’s leading artists.
Echoing voices of diversity and equality with the Bangkok Pride 2023 parade, which Central World co-hosted with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in addition to Naruemit Pride. The parade are moved from the Pathumwan intersection to the Ratchaprasong intersection at Central World, waving the beautiful and spectacular 144.8-meter rainbow flag with hundreds of thousands of people joining the grand procession. Enjoy special shows, mini concerts and celebrations of gender diversity attended by provincial governors ambassadors, government agencies and representatives from the LGBTQIAN+ community.

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that rapidly rising levels of blocked funds are a threat to airline connectivity in the affected markets. The industry’s blocked funds have increased by 47% to $2.27 billion in April 2023 from $1.55 billion in April 2022.  “Airlines cannot continue to offer services in markets where they are unable to repatriate the revenues arising from their commercial activities in those markets. Governments need to work with industry to resolve this situation so airlines can continue to provide the connectivity that is vital to driving economic activity and job creation,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
The top five countries account for 68.0% of blocked funds. These comprise:
Nigeria ($812.2 million)Bangladesh ($214.1 million)Algeria ($196.3 million)Pakistan ($188.2 million)Lebanon ($141.2 million)IATA urged governments to abide by international agreements and treaty obligations to enable airlines to repatriate these funds arising from the sale of tickets, cargo space, and other activities.

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European tourism leaders have met to advance shared plans for the sector’s future. The 68th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Europe (31 May – 2 June, Sofia, Bulgaria), assessed the current state of tourism in the region while also recognizing the vital importance of education, jobs and investments for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Bulgaria Leads High-Level Political Support for TourismAhead of the meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with President Rumen Radev and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Galab Donev, accompanied by Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria Ilin Dimitrov, to discuss shared priorities and areas of cooperation.
Prime Minister Donev welcomed the latest UNWTO data which shows Bulgaria is among the fastest recovering of European destinations, with international arrivals in the first quarter of year 27% higher than in 2019.In recognition of their leadership, President Radev awarded UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili and the Director for Europe Alessandra Priante with the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius, 1st Class and 2nd Class respectively, at a special ceremony in the Coat of Arms Hall.The two parties jointly recognized tourism’s importance for driving economic development and strengthening peace and understanding.The UNWTO delegation welcomed the Bulgarian Government’s work to diversify its tourism sector, with a focus on growing new areas including wellness, health and gastronomy tourism and supporting rural communities.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “European tourism is recovering strongly and on track to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. This is exactly the time to step up our efforts to transform our sector, with a skilled workforce and proper investments vital for making it more resilient, sustainable and inclusive.”
European Members Focus on Key PrioritiesHigh-level delegations representing 40 countries, a historic high participation, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Tourism, gathered for the Regional Commission. Member States were given an overview of UNWTO’s work, with a focus on:ADVERTISEMENTJobs: UNWTO continues to support the Institutions of the European Union in the context of the European Year of Skills, with the co-implementation phase of the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism now underway to re-skill the tourism workforce of the European Union.Education: Members were updated on the creation of a first Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Tourism Management, in partnership with the Lucerne University of Applied Arts and Sciences, and to launch a toolkit designed to help make tourism a subject in high schools worldwide.Investments: Identified as a key priority for the sector, UNWTO set the stage for World Tourism Day 2023 (27 September) with its theme of ‘Green Investments’, and also looked ahead to the UNWTO Tourism Investment Forum (Yerevan, Armenia, September 2023).Sustainability: UNWTO continues to guide global tourism’s climate action efforts, key works include the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (49 signatories to date, with 17 from European countries), and the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism (800+ signatories to date, more than half from Europe).The UNWTO Regional Director outlined how European Members champion tourism as a driver of resilience and recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic and amid the fragile socio-political situation in the region, caused by the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Looking AheadAdhering to the Organization’s statutory obligations, Members agreed:
Ukraine will serve as the Chair of the Commission for Europe for the period 2023 to 2025. Greece and Hungary will serve as the Vice Chairs.World Tourism Day 2024, to be held around the theme of “Tourism and Peace” will be officially hosted by Georgia.The Commission will meet in Uzbekistan this fall for its 69th meeting and in Albania in 2024 for its 70th meeting.On the eve of the meeting, UNWTO launched the Global Startup Competition for Mega Events and MICE Tourism, with the support of the Government of Uzbekistan and the participation of UEFA, the International Congress and Convention Association, and Mastercard. Finally, following an earlier announcement, UNWTO and Aviareps announced that Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania and Uzbekistan will be the first five countries to benefit from their collaboration.

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