March 19, 2015

Dear Editor,

I was surprised to hear from friends in Germany that Bermuda was not represented with a stand at one of the greatest tourism exhibitions in Europe earlier in March this year (nor in 2014), the Internationale Tourismus Börse in Berlin (Germany).

I thought there was an effort to reach the German and European market.

Here are some facts about this show:

• 5 Continents

• 180 Countries

• 600 Qualified Top Buyers

• 10,000 Exhibitors

• 20,000 Convention Visitors

• 50,000 Private Visitors

• 110,000 Trade Visitors

• 160,000 Square metres

• 6 Bn. Euro Turnover

source: http://www.itb-berlin.de/en/ITBBerlin/FactsFigures/

In the reports you can read that Europeans are looking for new destinations with problems like ISIS in northern Africa and Middle East, and Ebola in Western Africa.

After the Terror attack in Tunis / Tunisia this week even more people will look for safe destinations in the sun.

The ITB-Berlin is a show where airline representatives are looking for new routes, travel agents for interesting destinations, and tourism investors for new markets.

Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sint Marteen, Trinidad and Tobago, USA and Venezuela were among the exhibitors, but not Bermuda.

Even countries like Afghanistan were represented. 6 Billion Euros turnover and we were not there.

I know our Tourism Authority had a representative in Germany (Hamburg), but it seems they are waiting for people to come to them to get information. I hope we will not miss this chance to improve our tourism numbers next year (in March again).

I am convinced that many Germans would like to come to Bermuda if they knew more about it and there was a direct flight or at least a connecting flight (with BA you have to change airports in London).

As it is Bermuda is just not in the picture.

Kind regards

FRIEND OF BERMUDA