No:95 MAY/JUNE'07 - S&M Publication ltd

World Travel Trends Announced at ITBThe world’s biggest tourismfair, the ITB took place7 to 11 March at Messefair grounds in Berlin, Germany. A total of10,923 companies from184 countries and territorieswere presented theirproduct and services.Turkey attended the fair with a modern decorationstand, presenting its rich cultureand nature, drew attention of visitors. TurkishCulture & Tourism Minister Atilla Kocattended ITB 2007 Berlin Tourism Fair inGermany. Koc said, “we want to introduceour other advantages without neglectingsea, sand and sun tourism. There are1,600 thermal springs in Turkey . Werank the 7th in the world in this aspect.But we are on 1 percent in use of thesesprings.” Noting that congress tourism isalso developed in Turkey, Koc said thata congress center was build in Istanbulwhich has a capacity of 17,000 people.During ITB, IPK International announcedlatest world travel trends. On the globallevel, outbound trips rose by +5% in2006. This growth was fueled in particularby overall positive economic growth,continued increases in low-fare offers aswell as the fact that ever increasing numbersof people, particularly in Asia, havetaken to discovering more of the outsideworld beyond their own national borders.