Berlin ITB tourism fair: Turkish professionals face major passport control delays

The Berlin International Tourism Exchange (ITB), one of the world’s largest tourism fairs held annually in Germany’s capital, turned into a nightmare for Turkish tourism professionals.

With passport control delays stretching over two hours, many expressed their frustration on social media.

Unacceptable delays spark outrage

According to Hurriyet journalist Salim Uzun, tourism professionals captured the chaotic scenes at passport control on their phones.

Cengiz Haydar Barut, president of the Manavgat Side Touristic Hoteliers Association (MASTOB) and board member of Barut Hotels, voiced his anger: “This is a disgrace. So many tourism professionals are waiting at passport control, yet only two officers are on duty. This is unacceptable.”

Barut shared photos and videos on his social media account with the caption “Germany’s disgrace.” Kaan Kavaloglu, President of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the issue was not new but had worsened this year.

“We experienced a similar situation last year, but this time the problem is deeper. We will officially address this issue with the relevant German authorities,” Kavaloglu said.

137 Turkish companies represented at ITB Berlin

This year’s ITB Berlin fair, themed “The Power of Change Starts Here,” is set to host more than 5,800 companies from over 170 countries. Recognized as the world’s largest in its field, the fair will focus on the latest trends in marketing, sales, travel technology, accommodation, and destination management.

Operational, technological, and ecological challenges will be at the forefront of discussions, with a series of events scheduled throughout the fair. Türkiye will be represented by 137 tourism companies, underscoring the country’s strong presence in the global tourism market.