I REGION I AMERICAS &
I REGION I AMERICAS & CARIBBEAN I Costa Rica dresses all in green to celebrate bicentenary Exclusive Interview: Gustavo Segura, Tourism Minister, Costa Rica With a strong movement towards an ever more sustainable tourism industry, Costa Rica is at the heart of many discussions. We asked Tourism Minister Gustavo Segura what his key message is this year. It’s important for travellers and your readers to know that choosing Costa Rica as a destination to travel to, means a choice to support conservation of our global natural resources and to facilitate the social progress of rural and coastal communities in Costa Rica. With the continued rollout of vaccinations in Costa Rica and around the world, and our focus on health and safety, we are optimistic that the next few months will be positive and that our tourism industry will continue to recover steadily. Costa Rica has been successful in managing this pandemic and containing the virus thanks to the government’s quick actions to address the crisis and a free and universal healthcare, which was established over 80 years ago. Furthermore, we hold the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travel Stamp, which recognises governments and businesses who have adopted its health and hygiene protocols. You are participating in an interactive panel at ITB Berlin NOW. What will be the core message? This year, Costa Rica celebrates the 200th anniversary of its independence, which is a point of pride for Costa Ricans. During times like this, it is important to recognise the characteristics that set us apart - our spirit, sense of community and the hard work and optimism that has enabled us to progress through this pandemic and move toward recovery. There are many cultural experiences that travellers can have during this time that celebrate this historic moment of independence for the country. These experiences, coupled with our strong healthcare system, make Costa Rica an ideal destination for travellers to visit now and in the future. You were already known for sustainability. How are you innovating? Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. One of our more recent projects for sustainable ecotourism is a CO 2 compensation programme for tourists, established through an agreement between the Costa Rican Tourism Board, which I lead, and the Costa Rican Forestry Financing Fund. We are offering tourists to offset the CO 2 emissions caused by their air and land travel: On the fund's website, travellers can calculate the biological footprint of their trip and pay compensation for it into the fund. These payments are then used to support environmental protection services on site, such as tree planting, natural forest regeneration and agroforestry systems. What are your thoughts on the ITB Berlin NOW show and convention? ITB Berlin NOW is a great digital format to get in touch, be inspired and to meet different partners of the international tourism sector. We hope to be able to inspire visitors and participants, and convince them of the advantages Costa Rica offers Today, Friday, 12 March 2021 16:00 Today, Friday, 12 March 2021 16:20 All times are in CET VISIT BR AND CARD EVEN MORE ADVENTURE IN COSTA RICA Costa Rica is a land of volcanoes, rainforests and cloud forests, huge waterfalls and mighty rivers. This abundant natural setting makes it difficult to decide between the various adventure activities it offers, which include rafting, windsurfing, diving, kayaking, recreational fishing and surfing ITB INTERACTIVE PANEL Co-creating Sustainability in Tourism – powered by Futouris ITB Berlin NOW Convention Stage 1 ITB PANEL DISCUSSION International Tourism Policy Makers Panel ITB Berlin NOW Convention Stage 1 14 ITB BERLIN NEWS • FRIDAY 12 TH MARCH 2021 www.itb-berlin-news.com
I GERMAN REGION I THURINGIA I Erfurt is home to one of Germany's oldest Jewish communities Thuringia celebrates almost a millennium of Jewish culture Thuringia Tourism Board is at ITB Berlin NOW this year, promoting the German state as a top destination for nature and cultural holidays. At Thuringia's ITB Brand card, trade visitors can learn about this year's main news and offerings. FACTS & FIGURES A rough summary of Thuringia may read like this: very centrally located in Germany, about 2.2 million inhabitants on slightly over 16,000 km², five nature parks, two UNESCO biosphere reserves, one national park. 18 UNESCO-listed sites, birthplace of Bach and Bauhaus, Reformation history, around 400 castles and palaces. 7,500 km of hiking trails, 1,500 km of quality cycling paths ADVERTORIAL Weimar park am Ilm embodies the romantic spirit of Goethe Thuringia has one of the most important Jewish heritages in Germany as Jewish communities have been present for 900 years. “The reminders of Jewish life in Thuringia are of great importance to Thuringia’s tourism marketing,” explains Dr Franz Hofmann, CEO of Thüringer Tourismus GmbH. The ‘Nine hundred years of Jewish life in Thuringia’ campaign will run officially until the end of September 2021 and feature numerous highlights. Half a dozen exceptional exhibitions and circuits highlight the contribution of Jewish communities to Thuringia. WEIMAR, CITY OF ROMANTIC GARDENS As the Federal Horticultural show is hosted in Erfurt, the neighbouring city of Weimar puts the emphasize on its own gardens and parks. The fashion for English-style romantic gardens reached its peak between 1775 and 1825 with German poet Goethe influencing the complete redesign of the Park along the Ilm. Weimar's parks will host a series of events such as new exhibitions, thematic walks, an horticultural journey through the ages, the Weimar "Gartenlust" Festival and the orange tree procession in Belvedere Palace. THURINGIA'S GREEN BELT, NATURE IN FORMER "NO MANS LAND" "Nature knows no borders" is a joint campaign of Thuringia's Department of the Environment and the Thuringia Tourism Board. It aims at boosting Thuringia’s Green Belt as a tourism destination. The area used to be the border between West and East Germany. Being inaccessible during many decades, it became a special biotope where rare species are now living. In 2018, the 763 km-long green belt was made a National Monument offering several hiking routes through pristine landscapes. A village separated by a wall became a popular destination for visitors VISIT BR AND CARD Erfurt blossoms as it welcomes the Federal Horticultural Show BUGA 2021 In 2021, bright colours and fragrances will transform Erfurt, the capital of the Free State of Thuringia in central Germany. Already well known for its garden traditions, this year Erfurt plays host to the Federal Horticultural Show, a longstanding festival. With BUGA 2021, the Garden of Thuringia, the egapark and the Petersberg with its baroque inner-city fortress - one of the VISIT BR AND CARD largest in Europe - will flourish with unique flower displays and events. From 23 April to 10 October 2021, visitors can expect over 50 different themed and show gardens, exciting guided tours around the exhibition and a rich programme of events. They will discover the newly designed Danakil Desert and Jungle House and a permanent multimedia exhibition on the history of Petersberg ©Jens-Hauspurg ITB BERLIN NEWS • FRIDAY 12 TH MARCH 2021 15
