When Manfred Busche opened the first ITB International Tourism Exchange in 1966, he paved the way for a success story that has lasted for nearly 50 years. What started back then with nine exhibitors from five countries and a mere 250 trade visitors, has grown into a huge international success story.
The temporary “super travel agency” has gone through turbulent times, brought about by great social and political changes, in its five-decade-long history, including a time when the tourism industry became one of the key economic factors globally. ITB assumed a pioneering role in this field. It gathered knowledge, experience and contacts, identified market trends and continuously implemented new concepts. This is what made the international travel industry’s World’s Leading Travel Trade Show what it is today: a success accelerator and a trend barometer.
The figures speak for themselves: in 2015, more than 10,000 exhibitors from 186 countries presented their products and services to approx. 175,000 visitors. And the success story is set to continue…
Two people who have one major thing in common are meeting in the small Brandenburg town of Ketzin near Berlin, the hometown of Dr. Busche. Both are looking back on the many years of eventful trade fair history as well as sharing a vision for the next 50 years of ITB Berlin.
ITB 1966
ITB 1968
– ITB Berlin 1968 – Special prepared Bus for Photo Safari –
ITB 1969
– ITB Berlin 1969 – Folklorisic Dances at the stand of Yugoslavia
– ITB Berlin 1969 – Cyprus –
ITB 1971
– ITB Berlin 1971 – Fashion Show
ITB 1971
– ITB Berlin 1973 – View into hall 5
ITB 1979
ITB 1979 – Greece & Olympic Airways
ITB 1986
ITB 1991
ITB 2002
ITB 2003
