This year, on March 7, the largest international exhibition of the tourism industry ITB Berlin started. Visit Ukraine once again took part in the event. We are telling you about the history of our union's participation together with the company's CEO Anton Taranenko

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ITB Berlin 2023 kicked off in Germany on Tuesday, March 7. It is the world's largest travel trade fair attended by hotels, tourist boards, tour operators, system providers, airlines and car rental companies. 

ITB Berlin has been held annually in March since the mid-1960s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event did not take place in 2020, and in 2021 and 2022 it was held online. 

This year's event was the first offline ITB Berlin event after the break, and the Visit Ukraine team is taking part in it. We asked the company's CEO Anton Taranenko about the history of VU's participation in this event. 

- ITB Berlin is the largest international exhibition for the travel industry. What is the role of Visit Ukraine in this event? 

This year, Visit Ukraine is presenting two projects at ITB Berlin: Visit Ukraine itself and the international project Visit World, on which we want to place more emphasis. 

The new travel project Visit World is a resource where citizens from all over the world can learn the rules of crossing the border of any country.

- When did Visit Ukraine start participating in the exhibition? 

Since 2018, Kyiv Tourism Association, a member of Visit Ukraine, has been actively working to ensure that Ukraine is represented at exhibitions and events around the world. 

In particular, we attended ITB Asia in Singapore, World Travel Market in 2019 and many other events to present ourselves and Ukraine. 

We were also supposed to be represented at ITB Berlin in 2020, and a large stand was already prepared for this event. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, ITB Berlin was canceled, and the designed stand is still in Kyiv, waiting for its time. 

After Ukraine wins the war against russia, we will definitely make a large stand about our country for presentation at another event.

- What exactly does Visit Ukraine present during the event? What will it be this year and what have you presented before?

We are presenting Ukraine itself. And also the services available on our platforms. 

This year, first of all, we will present services for safe travel in Ukraine and all related products: insurance, legal support, booking tickets, tours, hotels, etc. That is, everything a person needs to plan their trip comfortably. 

- What message about tourism in Ukraine is VU presenting this year? 

This time our main message is: "Visit Ukraine after victory". But we also offer those who are coming to Ukraine now - diplomatic missions, journalists, volunteers - to use our website and learn everything about traveling to Ukraine. We also offer support for journalists from local trusted tour operators and guides. 

- What has changed compared to Visit Ukraine's participation in the exhibition before?

Before the full-scale war, we presented mostly "traditional" tourism in various destinations and tried to popularize Ukraine among foreigners. And I must say that we were very popular. 

And after the war, we will present our products, projects, and Ukraine as a whole, taking into account all the changes that have taken place and will take place in our country and the tourism industry.

- Where did the idea of participation come from and what does it bring to the company? 

First of all, I would like to point out that ITB Berlin is the largest travel trade show in the world. 24 pavilions, 200 countries, 4000 exhibitors - that is, it is a "city within a city" and a top event. Of course, every travel company should take part in this event to make itself known and gain a large number of contacts. Virtually the whole world comes to the event! And this opportunity should be used to find partners and clients. 

The Visit Ukraine team hopes that next year our slogan "Visit Ukraine after victory" will become a reality and we will be able to invite foreign guests to safely visit our heroic country as soon as possible. The whole world already knows about Ukraine, now people from all over the world should see it with their own eyes!


Main photo: VU participation in 2019

Our products and cooperation:

Visit Ukraine Tours is the largest online database of tours in Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Merch - patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book airline tickets to anywhere in the world, as well as bus and train tickets;

Cooperation – cooperation and advertising integrations with the Visit Ukraine and Visit World projects.