This year’s ITB Berlin will take place from 5 to 7 March, with the official opening ceremony being held tonight. Although the event takes place in Berlin, an official host country is designated every year and, in 2024, Oman was chosen, meaning it will put on the opening festivities.
Since its first edition in 1966, ITB Berlin has established itself as the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. Starting with only 9 exhibitors from 5 countries, the event reached 10,000 exhibitors from 181 countries in 2019. Tonight, 3,000 guests are invited to attend Oman’s opening ceremony, from the total of 24,000 participants expected over the course of the three days.
Under the slogan “Beauty Has An Address”, H.E. Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, has promised a spectacular, colourful and impressive show on the stage of the CityCube Berlin, featuring classical works and folk music. “An impressive tour of the many facets of this country awaits the audience”, ITB Berlin said in a press release.
The ceremony will be divided in three parts. The first part will highlight the beauty of Oman, including its natural attractions, traditions and elements of the Sultanate of Oman’s cultural heritage. The second part will focus on the progress of Oman, including the modernisation of the country and preservation of its cultural identity, as well as religion, education, human rights and art. In the third part entitled “Vision 2040”, the country will present new horizons, sustainable tourism development and its role on the world stage.
Omani singers and folk groups, accompanied by the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, will perform traditional Omani songs, as well as music works from around the world. This is the first time in 17 years that the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra is visiting Germany again. It is one of the few western-oriented symphony orchestras in the Arab World and, since it was founded, its musicians have been exclusively from Oman.
After the opening ceremony, the host country will also hold a reception at the CityCube Berlin, where culinary delights from the Sultanate of Oman will be served.
