Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday launched this year’s edition of ITB Berlin, a major international tourism fair running in the German capital and featuring Georgia as the Host Country, by highlighting hospitality as a “trademark” of the country to an audience of 2,500 in the opening event.
Hosted at CityCube Berlin, the opening gala for the event also involved Robert Habeck, the German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey and Dirk Hoffmann, the Managing Director of Messe Berlin fairgrounds.
This is @ITB_Berlin – the world's leading travel trade fair. #ITBBerlin is OPEN FOR CHANGE and it's our pleasure to welcome Prime Minister @GharibashviliGe
, @BMWK Robert Habeck, @RegBerlin @FranziskaGiffey, Jessica Simpson @WTTC and Dirk Hoffmann, #MesseBerlin pic.twitter.com/nnyMmyQYi3
— Messe Berlin (@MesseBerlin) March 6, 2023
“Today, only a small part of the history and great culture of our unique country is represented here. We hope this will inspire you to visit Georgia and get to know better our picturesque nature, great history and culture – and most importantly – hardworking, open-hearted and infinitely hospitable Georgian people.
When meeting every single Georgian, or visiting every single family, one will meet a phenomenon that is the leitmotif of our entire history – Georgian hospitality.
Those who have already been to Georgia are familiar with this phenomenon and know that Georgian hospitality is truly boundless.
As the Georgian expression goes, a guest is a Gift of God. We perceive guests as gifts sent by the Lord Almighty and give them the best we have.
One of the most important works of the Georgian literature – an Epic Story of a “Guest and Host” by monumental Georgian poet and writer, Vazha Pshavela, describes this very tradition – an implicit, but binding rule for everyone in Georgia.
Of course, hospitality is a characteristic feature of every nation, but for Georgians it is an inviolable and untouchable living tradition that defines our identity, despite the changes in time and circumstances. This unique feature of the Georgian character has not disappeared even in the most difficult and dramatic periods of history.
We have a special role to play today as we are guests in Europe and, the same time, we are hosting you on behalf of Georgia. This is a huge honor!”, Garibashvili said at the launch.
This year, Georgia is represented at the exhibition as a host country.
Tourism exhibition – ITB Berlin 2023 will be held on March 7-9.
