Global travel trade expects 2023 to be a record year despite the many economic challenges confronting the world. That is the message coming out of ITB Berlin 2023 that concluded on Thursday. 

As many as 90,127 registered attendees, including 24,000 convention attendees, graced the world's leading travel show where fully booked halls and the positive response to the three-day event from B2B customers. 

With around 5,500 exhibitors from 161 countries, the event once again proved that it is the leading platform for the global travel industry.

At ITB Berlin the international travel industry was delighted with the huge demand and people’s desire for travel, despite the challenging market situation. Following the break due to the pandemic and taking as its slogan ’Open for Change’, the event was back for the first time as an exclusively B2B event and confirmed its standing as the leading platform of the global travel industry. 

For ITB Berlin, the ITB Buyers‘ Circle with its 1,300 members was also an impressive success. Membership of this exclusive circle was limited to leading travel industry buyers. Their sales volume increased noticeably, and international participation grew from 50 per cent in 2019 to 70 per cent overall. 

The global nature and diversity of the approximately 5,500 exhibitors from 161 countries was equally impressive. ITB Berlin also attracted considerable media attention, with around 3,000 media members and 333 travel bloggers and high-profile international political figures at the event.

“Over the past few days the tourism industry has displayed incredible confidence despite the difficult overall situation and geopolitical crises“, said Dirk Hoffmann, Managing Director of Messe Berlin.