ITB Berlin at a glance: Georgia hosts leading tourism exhibition with “Infinite Hospitality”

Georgia hosted ITB Berlin, a major international tourism exhibition, between March 7-9 in the German capital, with tourism bodies and companies from the country showcasing the country’s rich history, winemaking culture, folklore, visitor destinations, culinary attractions, handicraft products and more under the theme of “Infinite Hospitality”. Photo: Ministry of Economy

The events kicked off with the opening gala on March 6,launched by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, shown here with his spouse. Photo: PM's press office

In his address at the launch event, Garibashvili highlighted hospitality as a “trademark” of Georgia and introduced the audience to the history and “great culture of our small country”. Photo: PM's press office

Georgian artists took over the stage following the opening remarks to headline a cultural programme under the heading “Infinite Georgian Culture - From the Beginnings of Viticulture to Modern Avant-garde Art” for the audience. Photo: PM's press office

The 45-minute cultural programme involved a brief look at Georgian history starting from the Greek myth of the Argonauts to the present day, while also featuring performances of ethno jazz and classical music artists. The stage was also set for electronic music producers and the Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet. Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

All visitors of the concert received “special gift kits” that included a “modernised” traditional Georgian blue cotton tablecloth, a puzzle game involving the ornaments of the piece, souvenirs and cup pads. Photo: PM's press office

An official reception followed the show, with guests invited to enjoy a Georgian supra feast - a “backbone of Georgian social culture and the best expression of Georgian hospitality”, as described by Maia Omiadze, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration. Photo: PM's press office

The first public day of ITB Berlin was opened with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 7. Young women dressed in Georgian national costumes offered ceremonial scissors. Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Governing Mayor of Berlin, the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Managing Director of the Messe Berlin fairgrounds. Photo: PM's press office

Following the ceremony, the Georgian representation at the fair led visitors to hub27, Berlin’s new multi-purpose hall and a hotspot of the exhibition, where the Georgian stand for the fairgrounds was unveiled. Photo: PM's press office 

The Georgian stand occupied around 1,000 square metres and two floors of hub27. There were two separate stands for presenting the country, with one for state institutions and the other for promoting adventure tourism in the country. Photo: PM's press office 

The stands offered their visitors a diverse programme that included culinary master classes for baking the khachapuri cheese-filled bread, making the popular khinkali dumplings, and baking bread in the special tone oven. Photo: PM's press office

Georgian PM invited Franziska Giffey, the Berlin Mayor, Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and Norbert Fiebig, the President of the German Travel Association, to the master class for making khinkali dumplings. Photo: PM's press office

The Government head introduced the guests to the traditional tone oven for baking bread. Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

A dedicated wine corner was also unveiled in a 100-square-metre space near the south entrance of hub27, where visitors were able to taste Georgian wine and receive brief information about the country’s 8,000-year-long winemaking history. Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

The wine corner featured the kvevri wine storage clay vessel, a major part of the winemaking traditions in Georgia. The vessel is used for underground storage of wine. Photo: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

A clay drinking vessel with a shape of Aries, dating back to the 8th-7th centuries BCE and unearthed in Georgia. Photo: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

Georgian PM, Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili visited the wine corner at the exhibition. Photo: Ministry of Economy

The Georgian stands introduced visitors to the country’s adventure tourism potential, hiking destinations, qualities of Georgia’s dense forest regions and exciting nature parks. 80 domestic hospitality sector companies joined forces to feature a wide range of tourism attractions, activities and events in the German capital. Photo: Ministry of Economy

A DJ performed at the Georgian corner for visitors. Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

Here visitors are introduced to the art of decorating Georgian ornaments with the help of artists. Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

The Georgian tradition of carpet weaving attracted visitors' attention. Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

GNTA head said Host Country status gave Georgia the opportunity to promote its tourism potential “at the largest scale possible”. The Berlin airport and all major streets of the city were branded with promotional messages showcasing the country with the message "we want the whole world to hear". Photo: GNTA

A banner featuring a type of khachapuri, an iconic dish of the Georgian cuisine, from the western Adjara region of the country. Photo: GNTA

This year’s Host Country was praised by both visitors and organisers of the event. David Ruetz, the Senior Vice President of Messe Berlin, the fairgrounds hosting the ITB Berlin, said choosing Georgia for the status had been an "excellent choice” and added he was convinced Georgian hospitality would “win all our hearts here at ITB”. Photo: GNTA