Luxembourg Promotes ‘International Cooperation’ at Berlin Tourism Fair

On Wednesday 4 March 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy reported that Lex Delles, Luxembourg’s Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, travelled to Berlin from Tuesday 3 to Wednesday 4 March, to visit the International Tourism Exchange Berlin (ITB) and to hold a series of bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts as well as representatives of professional organisations in the sector.

The ministry noted that the ITB (Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin) is considered the leading global meeting point for the travel and tourism industry and brings together key international stakeholders from the sector each year to discuss market trends and developments shaping the future of tourism.

Luxembourg is traditionally represented by a national stand organised by Luxembourg for Tourism under the banner “Visit Luxembourg”. The stand highlights the Grand Duchy’s tourism offering and provides Luxembourg professionals with an international platform for visibility and networking.

The ministry reported that upon his arrival on Tuesday 3 March, Minister Delles visited the Luxembourg stand and spoke with fifteen exhibitors and partners present: Voyages Emile Weber, Luxembourg City Tourist Office, DMC Luxembourg, Luxembourg Convention Bureau, Villa Pétrusse / Hotel Place d’Armes, Mondorf Domaine Thermal, Sightseeing.lu, the City of Esch-sur-Alzette, Youth Hostels Luxembourg, Hotel Le Royal, Luxair, Vins & Crémants, Domaines Vinsmoselle, Domaine Sunnen and the École d’hôtellerie et de tourisme du Luxembourg. Minister Delles commended the commitment of national stakeholders and highlighted the importance of Luxembourg’s presence at this major international event.

The ministry detailed that Minister Delles held several bilateral meetings on Tuesday 3 March. During his meeting with Marija Labović, CEO of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia, discussions focused on the development of wine tourism offerings and the exchange of best practices within the framework of the action plan. Minister Delles then met Tonči Glavina, Minister of Tourism and Sport of Croatia, with whom he discussed strategies for diversification and resilience in wine tourism in the face of current sectoral challenges. A meeting with Michalis Metaxas, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cyprus, provided an opportunity to exchange views on developments in the Mediterranean tourism market and opportunities for cooperation in tourism promotion and mobility.

The first day concluded with a networking reception organised at the “Visit Luxembourg” stand, with the support of the Embassy of Luxembourg in Germany and in the presence of Ambassador Sylvie Lucas.

According to the ministry, Minister Delles’ activities on  Wednesday 4 March were mainly devoted to active tourism, the second priority theme of the visit after wine tourism, with a particular focus on hiking tourism.

In this context, Minister Delles spoke with Dr Bernd Hartmann and Liane Jordan from the Deutscher Wanderverband (DWV) about the development of hiking infrastructure and the positioning of Luxembourg as a nature tourism destination. The ministry said that Luxembourg welcomed close cooperation with the DWV for the certification of the Leading Quality Trails, where it stands out through its presence in all three awarded categories.

During a meeting with Markus Tressel, CEO of Trepublica GmbH, Minister Delles also discussed development opportunities in the field of motorhome and caravanning tourism, as well as future trends. The minister also exchanged views with Erik Neumeyer, adviser on hiking tourism at the Directorate General for Tourism of the Ministry of the Economy, who is helping to develop an action plan for hiking tourism aimed at strengthening the attractiveness of hiking routes through a sustainable approach and increasing the economic benefits linked to outdoor activities.

Moreover, Minister Delles met Dr Christoph Ploß, Coordinator of the German Federal Government for the Maritime Economy and Tourism. These discussions addressed prospects for regional cooperation and the new national tourism strategy of Germany, launched in January 2026.

At the end of the working visit, Minister Delles remarked: “ITB Berlin is an essential meeting point, as the trade fair provides us with an important platform to promote Luxembourg as a destination for sustainable and active tourism. The discussions held this year, particularly on hiking tourism and international cooperation, help strengthen our positioning and develop new prospects for the Luxembourg tourism sector.”