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I SPECIAL FEATURE I LGBT+ TRAVEL / MEDICAL TOURISM I Rika Jean-François CSR Commissioner, ITB Berlin TAKING THE PULSE OF MEDICAL TOURISM LGBT+ Tourism: a full programme for 2021 Despite a very "limited" edition this year in comparison to a regular event, ITB Berlin NOW has prepared a full programme in terms of LGBT+ tourism. We asked ITB's CSR Commissioner, Rika Jean-François to tell us more. Thomas Bömkes Managing Director of Diversity Tourism GmbH Medical tourism takes on a new light in current circumstances, and this year's ITB Berlin NOW has a lot to offer. Thomas Bömkes, Managing Director of Diversity Tourism GmbH, is one of the primary organisers for the sector again this year. We asked him how it's being presented. Not to be missed this year is the ITB LGBT+ Café, including different meetings corners of our exhibitors and partners. The café and meeting corners are open to all ITB visitors interested in LGBT+ Tourism. We also have a special ITB LGBT+ Media Café, which is hosted by the Spanish Tourist Board Turespańa this year. The Italian Tourist Board -- ENIT -- is also a key sponsor this year. ENIT will have their own LGBT Brand card on top of their "general" presence at ITB NOW. Other LGBT+ brand card owners are IGLTA and TomOnTour. We will have an official opening of the pavilion ITB LGBT+ Café on Tuesday 12:00pm together with our partners. Our LGBT+ programme leaflet will also be available for download, so that nobody misses any event. What LGBT highlights are you most looking forward to at the ITB Berlin NOW Convention? Our partner Community Marketing & Insights will present their brand-new Covid and LGBTQ Travel Research key findings and our LGBT+ Roundtable will discuss concepts of restarting LGBT+ tourism with experts from Spain, Italy and the USA. The panel includes Fred Dixon, CEO NYC & Company, Elena Rossi, Marketing Director ENIT, Arturo Ortiz, Turespana, President John Tanzella IGLTA and Philip Ibrahim, Pink Pillow Berlin. Ed Salvato from NYC University will examine why a post-covid strategy should include LGBT+ travellers and the “Open for Business initiative” will share research-based insights into LGBT+ attitudes to Caribbean Travel. A presentation on how to access EU Fundraising in LGBT+ Tourism will also raise interest. We will also present, for the third time, our ITB LGBT+ Leadership Summit, which will discuss the current situation of the LGBT+ community globally. There are many differences between east and west, differences in social behaviour, in law and economic interests. How can the community itself develop solutions? There will be discussions with different partners from Eastern Europe, Germany and the USA. Will there be any special LGBT+ events this year? We will have our annual LGBT+ Happy Hour by TomOnTour as a virtual event with the ITB LGBT+ Pioneer Award, the silent auction for the IGLTA Foundation and some fun Drag Queen entertainment The ITB Medical Tourism Café will include different meeting corners of exhibitors, partners and medical buyers. We will have an official opening of the pavilion café on Tuesday 12:30 pm together with our partners which will include a “Medical Media Get Together", including EVEX Hospitals from Georgia, the European Historic Thermal Towns Association and the Great Spas of Europe. Following this, the cafe and its meeting corners will be open to all ITB visitors interested in Medical Tourism. Our partner, HTI Conference, will organise a special Medical Buyers' Lounge (in a corner of the ITB Medical Cafe), where visitors can meet directly and network with the buyers. We will also have our Medical programme leaflet available for download, so that nobody will miss any event. What Medical Tourism highlights are you most looking forward to at the ITB Berlin NOW Convention? The roundtable of the future of Medical Tourism organised by our partner HTI Conference will discuss current topics from different markets. ESPA - the European Spas Association will talk about Corona Recovery Concepts in medical spas and climate health spas in their roundtable. There will also be a presentation about EU Fundraising in Medical Tourism and Barcelona will present the city as Medical Destination for high complex treatments and Covid 19 20 ITB BERLIN NEWS • TUESDAY 2 ND MARCH 2021 www.itb-berlin-news.com
I SPECIAL FEATURE I ADVENTURE TOURISM I VISIT CYCLING SWITZERLAND'S MATTERHORN GLACIER At 3,883 m altitude, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Switzerland is Europe’s highest cableway mountain station. And it is also a paradise for mountain bikers. The high-Alpine world around Zermatt seems made for challenges on two wheels. More than 100 kilometres of trails at altitudes between 1,400 and 3,100 metres are available. VISIT BR AND CARD Matterhorn bike paradise BR AND CARD MyCabin brings shared economy values to camping The need for travelling and saving money while on holiday has contributed to a rise in illegal camping. The trend accelerated with the pandemics as motorhomes or camping became one of the few options left, with many hotels and shared appartments being closed. MyCabin appears to be an excellent compromise. A startup from Constance in Southwest Germany, MyCabin has the goal of revolutionising sustainable travel, offering a legal alternative to the ones with a motorhome or a tent. At MyCabin, meadows, woodlands, old barns and sprawling gardens that are not used all year round are turned into official places to spend the night - far away from mass tourism and luxury hotels. The hosts are private individuals who want to share their home and earn some extra money at the same time. They are often farmers or country folk who offer travellers not only an overnight in the midst of preserved natural landscapes, but who also give their guests an insight into local agriculture and traditions. The concept of MyCabin has already been acknowledged by the travel industry and been awarded several times: by the German government, by the Travel Industry Club or the Association of Internet Travel Marketing as Travel Start-Up 2020. With MyCabin exhibiting at ITB Berlin NOW 2021, Lene, one of the four founders, will be giving a talk about the way destinations can tackle the issue of wild camping and the problems that emerge from these illegal activities. Due to the pandemic, tourism in 2021 will most likely be dominated by "staycations". It could also turn into a "MyCabin holiday" bringing fun, value for money and a new sense of adventure The MyCabin Team BACK TO THE PAST AT BATTLE ISLAND, CANADA Going back in time to a period when electricity, cars and of course internet did not exist, the remote island of Battle Harbour in Labrador is the only National Historic District in Canada where visitors can spend a night. Only accessible by boat, from June through September, Battle Harbour VISIT BR AND CARD invites travellers to reconnect with nature and live like the first migrants in North America. Participants sleep in a centuries-old house, bake bread with locals, hike and experience sub-arctic flora and fauna. A spiritual (re) connection! ITB BERLIN NEWS • TUESDAY 2 ND MARCH 2021 21
