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Rostock / Berlin (dpa / mv) - The state tourism association does not see a future model in a purely online trade fair like this year's International Tourism Exchange ITB in Berlin.

"I cannot imagine that previous face-to-face fairs can be transferred one-to-one to digital," said managing director Tobias Woitendorf after the end of ITB Berlin Now, as the format was called, to the German press agency.

The solution for the ITB 2022 could be a hybrid form for the fair management, in which the good parts of the digital fair are taken over and connected with the "real fair".

He hopes that a face-to-face event will be possible again in 2022.

The online ITB with its specialist forums have made it clear that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can quickly get on the track after the restart - possibly as early as Easter.

It has been shown, however, that with the real ITB there is significantly more time available for concrete discussions and business contacts.

At the same time, it should be noted that the financial and organizational effort was comparatively low this year.

It was calculated at around 25,000 euros, compared to around 400,000 euros in previous years.

Woitendorf assumed that with a future “normal” ITB the organizational effort and the spatial presence for the presentation would be lower than in previous years.

"It's about concentrating and making the whole thing a bit smaller."

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The association had expected more from the use of the interactive exhibition stand and the prepared information.

User guidance and presentation options must be improved.

The technology also went on strike at the first online press conference, but the second attempt was successful.

In previous years, around 10,000 exhibitors from almost 200 countries met in Berlin, and more than 100,000 trade and 50,000 private visitors came to the huge site.

There were no private visitors this year, around 3500 exhibitors from 120 countries were represented.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210313-99-804329 / 2

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