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Preparations Begin for 2008 ITB Fair as the Dominican Republic Will Be the Host Country
The countdown begins. Within two months the Dominican Republic will display its tourism splendor in Berlin, Germany as host country of the 43rd ITB Fair, opening March 4th.
This year, the attention of the 170 participating countries will be centered on the Dominican Republican stand which is to be around 500 square meters in size. Some 5,000 journalists from around the world will be accredited and thousands of visitors will stop by to become acquainted with the numerous projects and to make tourist arrangements.
Dominicans attending the fair will include a delegation from the public and private sector headed by Tourism Secretary Félix Jiménez and made up of hotel companies from various parts of the country, business people, artistic producers, artists, craftspeople, chefs, media directors, journalists specializing in economy and tourism and television commentators, among others.
Throughout the event, to be held March 4-9 in Berlin, the mission of the Dominican nation will be to organize the inaugural ceremony and, during the fair, to provide entertainment on the various stages with artistic performances and displays such as the country’s diverse gastronomical talents.
Félix Jiménez pointed out that the ITB is one of the main sources of tourism promotion in the world and that being the host country of the fair is an opportunity which will mean an increase in the flow of tourists not just from Germany but from other parts of the world. He indicated that this fair is an ideal platform to demonstrate the country’s diverse tourism opportunities. In addition, it is an opportunity to meet and negotiate with important companies in the travel and tourism sector from all around the world.
“The Dominican Republic will make a large investment in this important promotional event with the idea of continuing to increase the flow of tourism not just from the German market but from all over the world,” said Jiménez.
He added that “the government, through Sectur, has designated some 2 million euros to cover our participation as host of the ITB, which includes promotion and advertising on the main television channels in Germany.”
About the Berlin ITB
The International Tourism Bureau (ITB for its acronym in German) is the most important professional tourism promotion event in the world.
The ITB event is attended by 10,000 exhibiting participants from 170 countries. It is a meeting point for professionals in the tourism sector and a center for inspiration and exchange of ideas, global relations and well directed marketing.
Among the participants will also be some 3,000 executives and owners of companies that provide services, hotel chains, tour operators, car rental companies, travel agencies, swimming pool supply companies, providers for bars and restaurants and commercial banks.
Tourism Secretary Félix Jiménez recently traveled to Berlin to move forward the preparations for the Dominican participation in the ITB. In the photo, David Rutes, Director of Messe Berlin; Pedro Vergés, Dominican Ambassador in Berlin; Félix Jiménez, Secretary of Tourism and Petra Cruz, Sectur Director for Europe and Germany.
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