Migration top of hard hitting travel industry ITB agenda

Father Frido Pfluger of the German Jesuit Refugee Service in Ethiopia

Refugees, migration, security, workplace integration, peace and women – all on CSR tourism discussion list

For many months the refugee situation has been the focus of debate not only in politics, but in the travel industry as well says ITB. This year, a number of discussions and lectures at the ITB Berlin Convention will examine this critical subject.

Scientists and experts will provide in-depth accounts and tourism professionals will relate their practical experiences of integrating refugees at the workplace. In Hall 4.1, where the focus is on responsible tourism, flight and migration will also be among the topics discussed.

ITB Destination Days will also address migration and security – on Wednesday, 9 March, day one of the ITB Destination Days at the ITB Berlin Convention, Interjections will be asking the question ‘Old Europe, new borders?’

Father Frido Pflüger, director of the Jesuit organisation Flüchtlingsdienst Deutschland; Jasmin Taylor, managing partner of JT Touristik GmbH and founder of the refugee organisation Strong Independent Sisters (SIS), as well as Düzen Tekkal, a TV journalist, author, editor and war zone correspondent, will relate their experiences.

On Thursday, 10 March, day two of the ITB Destination Days, the latest international research findings in connection with flight, migration and tourism will be revealed.

The influx of refugees across Europe also poses major challenges for tourism destinations such as Jordan, Turkey, Greece and Italy. After an introductory paper, the participants will talk about feelings of hostility versus the possibility of new kinds of hospitality emerging.

On Friday, 11 March, day three of the ITB Destination Days, as part of a discussion on ‘Tourism and security in the light of recent events’, the panel members will look at how the increased threat to security in many regions, terror attacks and stricter border controls could affect tourism.

At the ITB CSR Day On Friday, 11 March, experts will be discussing ‘Specialists needed – the refugees are coming. What does this mean for the tourism industry?’.

Afterwards, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai will introduce an event organised by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) honouring women who promote peace in tourism.

The ITB CSR Day will be concluded with the award-winning keynote speaker and tour operator Aziz Abu Sarah taking a look at the future on the topic of ‘Travelling for peace’. He will be looking at how tourism can help to prevent violent conflicts and illustrate how peace initiatives and business success can be combined in the travel industry.

Featuring several panel discussions and an interactive event, Hall 4.1 will also be debating the refugee situation.

On Wednesday, 9 March, a discussion will take place on  how development work influences migration flows.

Taking Albania as an example, the discussion will illustrate how German involvement has helped to develop tourism, how creating a wide range of tourism products can potentially boost the country’s economy, and will ask whether this has any influence on migration.

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle [email protected]