The stage is set for Oman: the slogan of this year’s ITB Berlin opening ceremony is ’Beauty Has An Address’. Represented by H.E. Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, the host country will present a colourful and impressive show onstage at the CityCube Berlin on the eve of the first day of the trade show, 4 March 2024, starting at 6 p.m.. A tour of the beauty and many facets of the country in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula awaits some 3,000 guests invited to the event, among them numerous prominent political and tourism industry figures.

Political representatives Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, and Dieter Janecek, the Federal Government’s Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism, will welcome the host country and those present. The travel industry will be represented by Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, will represent ITB Berlin.

An impressive tour of the many facets of this country awaits the audience and is divided into three parts. The first will highlight the beauty of Oman, including its many 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 Sultanate of Oman will present new horizons, sustainable tourism development and its role on the world stage.

In addition, Omani singers and folk groups will present a colourful programme, accompanied by the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, which will combine all elements of the show by presenting traditional Omani customs and melodies 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. As one of the few western-oriented symphony orchestras in the Arab World it occupies a special role. What is also extraordinary is that since the orchestra was founded its musicians have been exclusively from Oman.

After the opening ceremony, the host country will hold a reception at the CityCube Berlin, where culinary delights from the Sultanate of Oman will be served.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2024 will take place from Tuesday, 5 to Thursday, 7 March. Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. As in previous years, the internationally acclaimed ITB Berlin Convention will take place parallel with the show as a live event on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Under the heading „Pioneer the Transition in Travel & Tourism. Together.“, leading speakers from business, science and politics will discuss the industry’s current and future challenges on 4 stages with a total of 17 themed tracks and more than 24,000 attendees.