On the road with young people: Youth Travel at ITB Berlin

Once again, Hall 4.1 is the place to head for Youth Travel & Economy Accommodation – Focus on digitalisation and youth travel certification – Rockin’ All over the World Festival on the open days for the public

The big wide world beckons: from 7 to 11 March 2018 at ITB Berlin trade visitors and the general public can get comprehensive information on youth travel again. As in previous years, Hall 4.1 will be the place to head for Youth Travel & Economy Accommodation, where tourism associations, organisations and tour operators will be presenting their services and latest products. The displays are next door to the Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism segment where hotels for backpackers, budget hotels and designer hotels as well as youth hostels, internet websites and associations will be presenting their services for young people.

Valuable information: from digitalisation to school trips

From Wednesday, 7 March to Friday, 9 March 2018, on the trade visitor days of the show, a wide range of events on youth travel awaits visitors to the stage and the Youth Incoming Germany (YIG) Lounge. Together with the youth travel operator and holiday search engine Juvigo a total of six tourism startups will be presenting themselves to trade visitors and the youth travel community. The focus will be on new digital products which are certain to be of great interest to companies in this market. The Start-up Forum on the ’Digitalisation of Youth Travel’ will take place on Wednesday, 7 March 2018 from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

The day after, the programme will take a special look at tourism destinations. On Thursday, 8 March 2018 from 12 noon to 3.30 p.m., under the heading of ’Youth Travel Destinations’, visitors can find out how regions can obtain certification from the travel network Deutscher Fachverband für Jugendreisen for this group of customers. The Arberland and Schliersee regions, the first two destinations to have received certification, will relate their experiences and success. The travel network will also have wide-ranging information on procedures as well as benefits and marketing opportunities for interested destinations.

On Friday, 9 March, from 2 p.m. and on Saturday, 10 March 2018 from 10.30 a.m. the programme will be rounded off by a two-day seminar for teachers and trainee teachers on ’Certification for School Trips’. At the seminar, which is being organised in association with A&O Hotels and Hostels and Welcome Berlin Tours, key points will include legal and safety aspects when travelling, organising school trips, the certification of hotels/hostels for this market and considerations when taking coach trips. On Friday, 9 March 2018 A&O Hotels and Hostels will ensure the event’s successful conclusion by inviting all teachers attending to an informal get-together with snacks and refreshments at 5.30 p.m. in Hall 4.1.

On Thursday, 8 March 2018 from 5 to 6 p.m. a panel discussion will devote itself to the important topic of general safety and the safety of children and young people when travelling. Dennis Peinze, managing director of BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen, will moderate the event. Experts will discuss the standards established in recent years, especially those aimed at preventing sexual abuse. Safety concepts and quality criteria will be equally important topics, as well as extensive training of full-time and voluntary supervisors. Among those taking part in the panel discussion will be Eva Lingen, regional managing director of the child protection agency Deutscher Kinderschutzbund in North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lisi Maier, federal chair of the catholic youth organisation Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend.

Open days featuring the ‘world’s smallest festival’

On the weekend of the show the main theme will be ‘Rockin‘ All Over the World’. From 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 10 and Sunday, 11 March 2018, the two days open to the public, students of Hochschule Bremen will be organising the world’s smallest festival on the display area of YIG. This event at ITB Berlin addresses a topical trend, as for young people festivals offer an important reason for travelling. Accordingly, a wide range of events has been scheduled. Visitors can take home a personal souvenir from a ‘Photo Box’.

A single click will let them travel all day to different destinations where they can have their photos taken against a backdrop of their choice. They can also design their own festival armband or individual button. The Music Station featuring the popular video game Guitar Hero is all about being creative too. Visitors to the stand can produce their own sound and be part of an imaginary band. And just like at open-air festivals they can get a special souvenir in the shape of a genuine henna tattoo.