Travel trade fair ITB Berlin cancelled over Coronavirus fears

Photo: © Messe Berlin GmbH

ITB Berlin, a major international trade fair for travel and tourism, has been cancelled by its organiser over fears of a Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread at the event.

The annual trade fair was due to take place in the German capital Berlin from March 4 to 8. According to organiser Messe Berlin GmbH, around 10,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries were initially expected to attend ITB 2020. Over the past days, the trade fair had announced increased safety measures concerning health risks. These included requiring all exhibitors to fill out a health declaration form.

After delaying a decision, ITB announced on Friday evening that the 2020 edition is completely cancelled following a recommendation by Germany’s Ministries for health and economics.

Furthermore, the health authority of the responsible district in Berlin imposed additional restrictions on the event.

Among its requirements the authority stipulated that each participant would need to prove to Messe Berlin that they were not from a designated risk area or had not been in contact with a person or persons from a risk area. It is not possible for Messe Berlin to satisfy these requirements overall.Messe Berlin GmbH

The next ITB in Berlin is scheduled to take place in March 2021.

International Flight Network was due to attend ITB 2020 to report on the latest air travel news coming from the trade fair.

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