Georgia is the official host nation at ITB Berlin 2023. In 1992 Burkhard Herbote, a VP for the World Tourism Community and a Tourism Hero launched Georgia to ITB.

Will prime minister Irakli Garibashviliand from Georgia and UNWTO secretary normal Zurab Pololikashvili acknowledge World Tourism Community VP Burkhard Herbote once they open ITB 2023 in Berlin subsequent week?

A proud Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashviliand and a controversial UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili have to be trying ahead to the opening of the world largest journey and tourism commerce present ITB Berlin subsequent week.

Their nation, the Republic of Georgia is the official host nation for the world largest journey and tourism commerce present.

Seen because the guru for info for the worldwide journey and tourism, German nationwide Burkhard Herbote was personally invited to witness this achievement for Georgia and ITB in Berlin subsequent week, however received’t be capable to make it. Right here is his story:

Burkhard Herbote is a VP of the World Tourism Community, an envoy for this publication because it began in 2001, and a tourism hero.

Burkhard can also be a pioneer for therefore many developments within the historical past of worldwide journey and tourism, and one if his help made Georgia a significant participant on this sector, an exhibitor at ITB, and now a the official associate host nation for the worlds largest tourism commerce present.

Right here is his story on how he helped Georgia to turn into what the nation is right this moment with regard to its standing in journey and tourism.

Herbote: That is February, 1992, one week earlier than the ITB 1992 commerce present in Berlin, Germany.

The Soviet Union simply collapsed weeks in the past. Nations that had been a part of the USSR had a mountain of issues in rebuilding their nations, and tourism wasn’t on the checklist of priorities.

Michail Grobatschow was elected Normal Secretary of the KPdSU, the communist get together for the USSR. He tried to protected the Soviet Union with reforms. Perestroika (adjustments) and Glasnot (Russian for openess) was on the agenda.

The chilly struggle turned hotter and extra peaceable by the day. The times for the outdated Soviet system was numbered. In Germany the wall in Berlin fell on November 9, 1989, and 10 months later the previous German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

“Germany was fortunate. As we see right this moment with Ukraine the ending may have been rather a lot much less blissful. “

Burkhard Herbote

The DDR (East Germany) was no extra and comparable adjustments had been on the instant horizon for the Jap communist block in Europe.

Many working for ITB and its organizer, Messe Berlin right this moment solely know this from faculty. Many right this moment by no means skilled a lethal border wall throughout the two former Germany nations.

The border wall and the function Berlin performed because the capital of former DDR in a single divided metropolis, makes this metropolis a bacon of freedom and hope for the world.

At ITB 1990 exhibitors on the DDR stand didn’t know that only one yr later East Germany will probably be a part of one united Germany once more.

“Unity, and proper and freedom for the German fatherland” had been the primary phrases of West Germany’s nationwide anthem at the moment – and it turned a actuality.

Simply 10 days after ITB 1990 the primary free election passed off within the former German Democratic Republic (DDR)

At ITB 1991 many adjustments formed a brand new world additionally for Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Moreover the state owned journey firms that operated journey and tourism in nations behind the iron curtain, resembling Ibusz (Hungary), Polorbis (Poland), Cedok (CSSR), Carpati (Romania), Balkantourist (Bulgaria), the primary non-public exhibitors from these nations joined their nations stand.

The identical improvement was seen on the ITB stand for the previous Soviet Union. Republics that had been a part of the USSR exhibited independently. Amongst them was the Republic of Georgia.

The European map was repainted – additionally at ITB.

“My cellphone rang in 1992”, Burkhard Herbote went on to clarify:

It was a name from a Mr. Saba Kiknazde lengthy distance from the Republic of Georgia. Saba was an architect primarily based in Georgia’s capital metropolis Tbilissi. He spoke good English and advised me he was beginning his personal non-public tour firm in Georgia.

Knowledgeable for unknown unique tourism locations

He defined, a German buddy had mailed him a replica of an article revealed in “Frankfurter Rundschau” newspaper saying I (Burkhard Herbote) was an professional for unknown unique tourism locations.