The subject of destinations will dominate four events at the ITB Convention Market Trends & Innovations. From the all-important FIFA World Cup 2006 and shopping tourism to…
The subject of destinations will dominate four events at the ITB Convention Market Trends & Innovations. From the all-important FIFA World Cup 2006 and shopping tourism to travelling into space – the ITB Berlin will be addressing the most important issues and trends. The initial findings of the study carried out by Tourist Impulse Monitor (TIM) Europe 2006 provide a general overview of these subjects.
Tourism destinations from the customer‘s viewpoint
The introductory event, entitled “Tourism Destinations from the Customer‘s Viewpoint”, takes place on 9 March 2006 and deals with the important subject: “Are tourists aware of the uniqueness of a destination?” This is a question that concerns many of those in positions of responsibility in tourism, who often have no idea what German tourists think of their country. This event will examine the brand images of various destination countries in Europe.
Moreover the strengths and weaknesses of European destinations give an indication of the opportunities and risks facing individual countries. Subsequently the changing market structures within the tourism sector will be investigated, together with the ensuring pressures on destinations and hoteliers to adapt: customers‘ preferences and marketing structures alter, destinations suffer from over-capacity, and traditional destinations lose their appeal. Meanwhile new destinations such as Dubai and new types of holiday such as cruises, with massive advertising budgets, are making their presence felt on the market.
The initial findings of the Tourist Impulse Monitor (TIM) Europe 2006 will also be presented, illustrating the image, appeal and commercial opportunities of European destination countries in the eyes of German tourists. The speakers will be Jens-Jorgen Middeke, General Manager, Institut fur Freizeitwirtschaft (Leisure Industry Institute), and Heike Troster, Project Manager, Institut fur Freizeitwirtschaft, both from Munich.
The second of the topics to be covered at this event asks the question “Customers and sales channels are changing – what implications does this have for destinations and hoteliers?” Providing some answers and suggested solutions to these major challenges will be Thies Rheinsberg, Director Group Development TUI AG.
FIFA World Cup 2006, shopping tourism and space flights
The discussions between leading experts on 11 March will be dominated by the subject of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2006. Such major events are frequently accompanied by extensive infrastructural investments, and it is often claimed that such investments have lasting benefits for the tourism of the region concerned. How can major sporting events produce such long-term effects for tourism? Examples will be provided, citing previous events of this nature, to illustrate the impact. Ideas for improving the measures being adopted at this year‘s FIFA World Cup will be suggested. Following an introductory paper by Prof. Dr. Holger Preuss, Professor at the University of Mainz, he will then chair discussions between Richard Adam, General Manager of Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH, Livio Cordero, Director, Turin Tourism, Dr. Robert Datzer, General Manager Nordrhein-Westfalen Tourism, Joan Gaspart, President, Barcelona Tourism and Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive of the German National Tourist Board (DZT).
Shopping tourism offers great scope for expansion but remains relatively unexplored. The event taking place on 11 March 2006 and will seek to cast some light on this area by presenting the findings of a study entitled “An international comparison of shopping tourism”, which was conducted by ISG Institut fur Sozialforschung und Gesellschaftspolitik. How can the trade, working together with local tourism organisations, develop this expanding market? What can best-practice examples show us? Dr. Werner Friedrich from the management of ISG Institut fur Sozialforschung und Gesellschaftspolitik will give the introductory paper. This will be followed by discussions between Andrea Talevski, Director Marketing Berlin Tourismus Marketing and Constanze Hilgers, Tourism Manager with Value Retail.
“Destination Space” on 12 March 2006, will take a look into the future. Since Dennis Tito became the first space tourist, commercial companies have been taking an interest in the space tourism market. What are the prospects for the development of this spectacular sector of the market? Dr. Robert Goehlich, Visiting Professor for Space Tourism at Keio University in Yokohama, Japan, will provide the introductory paper, and this will be following by a discussion between Dieter Isakeit, European Space Agency ESA and Thomas Kraus, Proprietor and General Manager of the German-Space-Shop.
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