the values we believe in: social responsibility and involving local communities in tourism.
Bianka Benko :
The past three days at ITB Berlin were incredibly intense, and we had the opportunity to take part in events and meetings that we honestly did not expect. We had more than 50 meetings with partners from all around the world. Due to the tight schedule it was impossible to attend every single one, but we did our best to connect with as many partners as possible.
What was truly inspiring was that many of the service providers we met already have strong experience in the values we believe in: social responsibility and involving local communities in tourism.
We also learned a lot. One Vietnamese partner shared a great example: their travel agency financially supports local families so they can develop their homes and services to host travelers. The Vietnamese government also invests in this initiative to help strengthen rural regions.
We are already preparing for 2027, and one of our strongest directions — since both of us have lived there — will be South American destinations, while of course exploring other new regions as well.
It was also wonderful to reconnect with my classmates and organizers from the Amadeus Travel4Impact mentoring program, and to meet the Hungarian delegation where Baranya County was strongly represented. We also celebrated a great Hungarian success: Miskolc’s “Edible Forest” project won first place at the Green Destinations awards.
The fair could not end without discovering the host country, Angola, where we already found a female partner who shares the same values and approach to tourism. Portuguese-speaking regions have always been close to my heart, and it would be wonderful to bring travelers there as well.
Beyond the Angola-hosted opening gala, we attended several evening events, including the South African evening, where we connected with partners I will travel with to Namibia in November for a study tour.
And the surprises didn’t stop there: ITB China invited Rita and me to Shanghai for ITB China and the following one-week study tour. This will allow us not only to explore urban China but also to experience the countryside and learn more about the initiatives led by Chinese women that could inspire future travel experiences for Hungarian travelers.
A huge thank you to the team of STR CEE Destination Handling and IPD – Import Promotion Desk., who organized several meetings for us and connected us with partners who perfectly fit our portfolio.
Rita Pataky Amadeus Travelife for Tour Operators Audrey Mourguiart Cecilia Serravalle Eszter Puch Mark Kincses Csilla Jánosi Csongor Moldvai
No Planet B Travel with B Emily Downes
Impulse Travel Colombia
Amadeus
Bianka Benko : Sustainable Tourism Entrepreneur & Advisor | Destination Development | Women Empowerment in Travel | Community-Based Tourism Advocate
M.Z.I. Dalton Zahir | from ITB
