Alice Kanterian

State Secretary Rudi Hoogvliet, the host of the Danube Salon

The Danube Salon was part of the ITB Berlin Congress 2024, which explored the future of travel and tourism under the theme “Pioneer the Transition in Travel & Tourism Together”. The right timing for location scouting along the Danube river!

The Danube Salon takes traditionally place in the Baden-Württemberg State Representation, and this was the case also at the current ITB. 400 participants attended the Danube Salon, which took place for the ninth time and this time on the last day of the ITB, on 07.03. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova were represented at the Danube Salon by the relevant embassies or the marketing departments of their ministries of tourism.

Each country had a stand inviting the numerous visitors to discover the authentic culinary products of their countries like in the case of Croatia, local wine and beer like in the case of Romania, aswell as art which was displaced at the stand of the Republic of Moldova. And last but least the country as a touristic destination, the touristic attractions of each country along the river of Danube were in the main focus.

Local German politicians like Rudi Hoogvliet, the host of the evening, members of the diplomatic corp, representatives of the National Tourism Office, like Valentin Ceban and Mtvarisa Luchian from the Republic of Moldova, artists of the diaspora like in the case of the Republic of Moldova the artist couple Valeriu and Julia Kurtu (www.kurtukunst.com and so my Australian colleague Rohit Gupta from Travel and Taste www.travelandtaste.com.au bought two ceramic pieces) representatives of the various culture institues, like the director of the Romanian Culture Institute in Berlin Cristian Niculescu.

Mtvarisa Luchian, lead specialist marketing at the National Tourism Office of the Republic of Moldova (NTO) in the middle of action, promoting wine from Moldova

All this was rounded up by a music band from Bosnia and Herzegovina playing and it didn't take too long and everybody ended up on the dancefloor. This remarcable and very well organised event by the Baden-Württemberg State Representation in collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism and the Embassies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova is an event not to be missed and from now on my ITB calender. 

See you next year at the Danube Salon/Donausalon in Berlin 04-06.03 with Albania as the Host Country of the ITB 2025.

Alice Kanterian