Focus on social and ecological sustainability at ITB Berlin

The ITB Responsible Tourism track at the ITB Berlin Convention features climate change action, resilience and regeneration as key topics.

Socially responsible tourism has long been on the agenda of ITB Berlin. This year’s event is again raising awareness for social responsibility in tourism with a wide range of panel discussions, seminars and lectures. The ITB Responsible Tourism track at the ITB Berlin Convention and the 18th Green Business Forum for Tourism Professionals are a significant part of this.

At ITB Berlin, responsible tourism stands for environmentally and socially responsible tourism around the world. Hall 4.1 is where traditionally numerous exhibitors with a strong commitment to socially responsible tourism are gathered. From 7 to 9 March on the ITB Lighthouse Stage in Hall 4.1, the focus will be on the 18th Green Business Forum for Tourism Professionals. Exhibitors in Hall 4.1 and leading international experts representing every tourism market, business and science will discuss topics including overtourism, marine protection and pollution, regional foods in hotels and restaurants, biodiversity, alternative mobility and cycle tourism.

On Thursday, the last Day of ITB Berlin, the popular onstage ITB Responsible Tourism Network Event will be taking place again. This is coorganised by ITB Berlin and its longtime Responsible Tourism partner The Blue Yonder.

On Thursday, 9 March, the Responsible Tourism Track with climate change action, resilience and regeneration as its key topics will again be an unmissable event at the ITB Berlin Convention. How the tourism industry can live up to its promises on the environment while becoming a more equitable sector will be the subject of debates, scientific reports and critical panel discussions, with best practices provided as evidence. At 2 p.m. the topics of climate change, rising sea levels and resilience will be addressed in a speech by Abdulla Mausoom, tourism minister of the Maldives, followed by a session on practical problemsolving with regard to tourism.

At 4 p.m. at the session entitled ’Shaping a just and equitable industry transformation’, the focus will be on employment conditions in tourism. Following a keynote speech by Dirk Meyer, department head, Global Health, Economy, Trade and Rural Development at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

On Thursday, 9 March at 5.45 p.m., the Responsible Tourism track will conclude with an open reception on the Orange Stage in Hall 7.1a. As part of the industry dialogue entitled ’Tourism for Sustainable Development’, the Agency for Business and Economic Development, the cooperative network Business Scouts for Development and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are extending an invitation to an open exchange with policymakers, representatives of the private sector and civic organisations.

At the LGBTQ+ session entitled ’LQBTQ+ Tourism und Resilience’, an announcement will also be made on the winner of the ITB LGBTQ+ Pioneer Award. The session will begin at 12.10 p.m. on the Green Stage in Hall 3.1. On Thursday, 9 March at 7 p.m. at the leading international experts will discuss topics including overtourism, marine protection and pollution, regional foods in hotels and restaurants, biodiversity, alternative mobility and cycle tourism

Ritz Carlton Hotel, on the last day of ITB Berlin, the ITB Diversity Gala will take place for the first time in support of the IGLTA Foundation. During the event a silent auction will conclude in support of the foundation.

8 March, which is International Women’s Day and a public holiday in Berlin, will provide an opportunity for additional events on gender equality. On 7 March, the day before International Women’s Day, at the ITB Berlin Convention at the Diversity & Inclusion track on the Green Stage in Hall 3.1, a session will take place on gender equality. This will examine whether tourism can help further empower women around the world and drive emancipation, and to what extent gender equality can better assist fighting the climate crisis.

Over the three days of ITB Berlin donations will be collected on the exhibition grounds for a welfare project chosen by this year’s host country Georgia. This year, donations will be going to support the Georgian Farmers‘ Association (GFA). This non-profit organisation was established in 2012 and currently numbers 4,000 farmers from all parts of Georgia.