Tourexpi
Interested participants will also have the opportunity to join online.
At the conference, national and international experts – including researchers, representatives of tourism businesses and destinations, as well as associations representing people with disabilities – will discuss the latest findings. Keynote speeches, best-practice presentations and panel discussions will highlight current strategies and progress on inclusion in travel. In 2026, the GNTB will focus on accessible cultural offerings, accessible accommodation, AI and technology supporting travel planning, as well as holiday experiences on and by the water.
The event will be opened by Dr. Christoph Ploß, Member of the German Bundestag and Federal Government Coordinator for Tourism. Welcome remarks will be delivered by Jürgen Dusel, Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities, and André Nowak, spokesperson for the Tourism Working Group of the German Disability Council.
According to Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the German National Tourist Board, “Inclusion is an essential component of our international marketing of Destination Germany. It is driven by social responsibility and reflects a customer- and service-oriented quality approach to tourism. Germany is already very well positioned as an attractive travel destination for people who require inclusive offers.”
The Day of Accessible Tourism is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and supported by Messe Berlin / ITB. The programme was developed by the GNTB together with its project advisory board – including the “AG Leichter Reisen”, the “Tourismus für Alle” working group of the regional tourism organizations, as well as the Tourism Working Group of the German Disability Council, represented by its spokesperson André Nowak.
The event will be held in German and English (with simultaneous interpretation). Sign language and written interpreters will also be available. An ITB ticket is required for on-site participation. Online participation is free of charge.
The programme and registration link will be available from mid-January 2026 at www.germany.travel/tdbt.
Picture Credit: © GNTB Jens Wegener
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