Daniela Santanche’s day at ITB Berlin

“Our presence here,” Minister Daniela Santanche declared, “also means confirming the friendly relationship and mutual respect that historically binds Italy and Germany, both in terms of international relations and in the purely touristic sphere.”

The Minister added: “Germany is the fourth most visited destination by Italians and is also the first incoming market for Italy. In 2022, there were 9.4 million German visitors to Italy, with 58.5 million overnight stays and an average stay of 6.2 days.

“It is an increasingly diversified tourism, of people who come and go back to Italy to discover new destinations every time, try new experiences, and explore smaller destinations.”

Considering the over 800,000 Italians residing in Germany, it goes without saying that one of the strong themes is the so-called root tourism, to which 2024 will be dedicated.

Tourism always comes back is the theme launched at the opening of ITB Berlin, by Secretary General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili. Data from the UN-backed World Tourism Organization shows more than double as many people traveled abroad in January as they did at the start of 2022. Precisely the return to the Berlin fair, besides the recent reopening of China, is proof of the newfound confidence in international travel.

At the inauguration of ITB was German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili (country host of the event), and Mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey. Investments will be the crucial theme of World Tourism Day 2023, to be celebrated on September 27.