ITB Berlin Convention - discovering Mongolia

The partner country of the world’s largest tourism convention – a colourful programme of shows, high-level discussion rounds and the presentation of the ITB Book Awards – the closing ceremony, The Festival of the Delphic Games, features performing artists from Mongolia.  Mongolia will be the focus of attention at this year’s ITB Berlin, with a colourful and diverse programme of events. In its role as the partner country of the ITB Berlin Convention, the international travel industry’s leading think tank, Mongolia will be presenting itself as an attractive travel destination for cultural tourists. As the host of high-level podium discussions on domestic economic development and on measures to combat the effects of climate change, Mongolia will be at the forefront of events throughout the entire show. With three stands at the world’s leading travel trade show, it will be focusing attention on cultural travel and sustainable tourism. Mongolia’s main stand (310) is located in Hall 26c. Visitors interested in Mongolian culture can find out all they want to know at Stand 112 in Hall 10.2. On Stand 115 in Hall 4.1 the main theme will be sustainable tourism. Events will kick off on Sunday, 27 February 2011, with the Mongolian Movie Night. On Tuesday, 8 March 2011, high-ranking visitors will be at the opening ceremony of ITB Berlin, with Luimed Gansukh, the Mongolian Minister of the Environment and Tourism, due to attend. One day later he will conduct the ceremony opening the ITB Berlin Convention in Hall 7.1b. On Wednesday, 9 March 2011, the Mongolia Forum in Hall 7.1a will discuss ”landscapes and culture“ and “products and responsibility”. Items on the agenda include the prospects for developing tourism, with a talk by Batbold Dorjgurkhem, Director of the International Relations Division of the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, the Environment and Tourism. Damba Gantemur, Chairman of Mongolia’s Sustainable Tourism Development Centre, will highlight tourism as an instrument for preserving the cultural heritage and nomadic traditions. Starting at 3 p.m., away from events at the trade show, the Mongolian Business Forum will discuss the prospects for the country’s economic future at IHK Berlin. On Thursday, 10 March 2011, at the Ministerial Summit on Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region at the CSR Day in Hall 7.1a, the following will take part in a discussion on “protecting the environment between sea level and the highest mountain peaks“: Luimed Gansukh, the Mongolian Minister of the Environment and Tourism, Deepak Bohara, Minister of Forests and Soil Conservation, Nepal, and Dr. Mariyam Zulfa, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Republic of Maldives. They will talk about how tourism destinations are dealing with the ecological challenges they face as a result of climate change. Hiran Cooray, Chairman of PATA will moderate this high-level podium discussion. The ITB CSR Day is sponsored by Planeterra, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the Competence Call Center, and Futouris.  One of the cultural high points of the show will be the presentation of the ITB Book Awards on Friday, 11 March 2011 in Hall 10.2. The jury will honour the film “Das weinende Kamel“, produced by Filmhochschule München, with an award for its sensitive treatment of Mongolia’s traditional lifestyle. Two travel guides will also receive prizes: the Mongolia Travel Guide, written by Peter Woeste and Michael Walther (published by DUMONT), and Mongolia, written by Marion Wisotzki, Erna Käppeli and Ernst von Waldenfels (published by Trescher). Awards will also be presented to the authors of literary travel books: to Galsan Tschinag for his latest novels about Mongolia, “Die Rückkehr“ (published by Suhrkamp) and “Das andere Dasein“ (published by Insel), as well as to the ethnologist Amélie Schenk for ”Das Meckern der Pferdekopfgeige“ (published by Waldgut).  On Saturday, 12 March 2011 at ITB, members of the general public visiting the trade show will have an opportunity to win a trip to Mongolia. As part of the big prize draw at ITB Berlin, Mongolia is giving away a trip to the Gobi desert and to Karakorum, once the capital of the Mongol Empire.