ITB Berlin 2024: Host Country Oman to Open Expo with Spectacular Show

Photo source: ITB Berlin

This year’s ITB Berlin travel trade show will open this year with a spectacular show featuring classical works and folk music by Oman, the expo’s Host Country. The show will take place March 4, on the eve of the first day of the trade show, at the CityCube Berlin in Germany.

ITB Berlin 2024 will be held March 5-7 on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

Under the slogan of this year’s ITB Berlin opening ceremony “Beauty Has An Address” the stage is set for Oman. 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 colorful onstage show.

Divided into three parts, an impressive 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 prominent political and tourism industry figures.

ITB Berlin 2023 Opening Tour at the booth of Oman. Photo source: ITB Berlin

The show’s first part will highlight the beauty of Oman, including its many natural attractions, traditions, and elements of the Sultanate’s cultural heritage. The second part will focus on the progress of Oman, including the modernization of the country and preservation of its cultural identity, as well as religion, education, human rights and art. Under the title “Vision 2040”, the show’s third part will see the Sultanate of Oman presenting new horizons, sustainable tourism development and its role on the world stage.

In addition, Omani singers and folk groups will present an impressive program, 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.

Oman’s booth from ITB Berlin 2023. Photo source: Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism

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.

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

Photo source: ITB Berlin

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 guests. 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.