ITB Berlin 2024: Host Country Oman to Present Wide Range of Activities
Under the theme “Beauty Has An Address”, Oman, the host country for ITB Berlin 2024, will present a variety of activities and attractions at the travel trade show, highlighting the Arabian country’s tourism and cultural diversity.
ITB Berlin 2024 will be held on March 5-7 on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Germany.
The Sultanate of Oman’s presence at this year’s ITB Berlin will include numerous events based on the country’s impressive history spanning 5,000 years and many different attractions. H.E. Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage & Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, will be heading the delegation from Oman to ITB Berlin.
Official opening press conference and opening ceremony
The official opening press conference with His Excellency Azzan bin Qassim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, will be held on 4 March, at 10am in the CityCube Berlin venue, followed by the opening ceremony at 6pm.
During the opening ceremony, the audience will be shown the beauty of the Sultanate of Oman, including its diverse nature, traditions, and cultural heritage.
Under the title “Vision 2024,” the Sultanate of Oman will present new horizons, sustainable tourism development, and the country’s global positioning. Performances by Omani singers and folklore bands, accompanied by the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, will round off the program.
Diverse presence and informative panel discussions
The Sultanate of Oman will have a strong presence on all three days of the show, with a stand of around 800 square metres in Hall 2.2, stand 201, and in Hall 4.1, stand 200. Visitors will be able to experience Omani Culinary Arts at stand 205.
The host country will also have a presence in the Youth Travel and Economy Accommodation, Adventure Travel, and Responsible Tourism segments in Hall 4.1. On the first day of the show, a panel discussion on “How do we achieve NetZero in tourism?” will take place on the Lighthouse Stage, featuring the Omani Minister Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi.
In the afternoon, the panel discussion “Omani Adventure Tourism: Experience the Journey of Discovery and Self-Actualization” will take place with the participation of local Destination Management Companies (DMCs), giving the industry the opportunity to learn more about adventure tourism in Oman.
ITB MICE Night 2024 and ITB Blogger Base, presented by the Sultanate of Oman
The Sultanate will also be the partner of the official ITB MICE NIGHT at NIO House Berlin. A plethora of inspiration and innovation regarding MICE industry trends, networking opportunities, and culinary delights from Oman’s host country are promised in the evening program of the official event for the meetings and events industry.
Oman will also be the focus of the ITB Blogger Base in Hall 8.2, which invites bloggers to an exclusive get-together on ITB Wednesday. During the event, bloggers will have the opportunity to experience Omani hospitality over traditional coffee and dates, learn about the Sultanate in a presentation, win exciting prizes in a raffle, and network with Omani partners.
The oriental hospitality of the Sultanate of Oman can also be experienced outside the exhibition grounds. On the evening of March 6, the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra invites the Berlin public to a concert at the Philharmonie Berlin where the musical ambassadors of the Sultanate will not only perform in their national robes but also offer a dynamic balancing act between classical music and works typical of the country.
Oman at the ITB Berlin Convention and the Hybrid Stage Event
Trade visitors can look forward to further events organized by this year’s host country. As part of the ITB Berlin Convention, Salim Al Mahrouqi will open the Destination Track on the Blue Stage in Hall 7.1 on March 6. A panel discussion on “Re-Defining Visitor Experience: It is All About Authenticity” will follow.
Additionally, the panel discussion “The Role of Gastronomy in Community Empowerment: Lessons from Oman” will be held on March 7 on the Hybrid Stage in Hall 5.3. Oman will highlight the role of its gastronomy in empowering locals through the tourism industry, as well as share practical experience.
The ITB Berlin Convention will be held live on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds in parallel with the show. Under the heading “Pioneer the Transition in Travel and Tourism. Together,” leading speakers from business, science, and politics will discuss the industry’s current and future challenges on 4 stages with a total of 17 themed tracks and more than 24,000 attendees.