The three top stories from ITB Berlin on Thursday, 5 March 2015

ITB Berlin Daily: Maldives is the partner country of ITB Berlin 2016 +++ The rise and rise of smartphones and tablets in the travel world +++ Alternative tourism in Tunisia +++ New Social Media Newsroom: news, photos and posts from Facebook and Twitter

Berlin --At ITB Berlin the Maldives and the world's largest travel trade show have signed a contract sealing their partnership in 2016. The rise and rise of mobile devices means the tourism market faces new challenges. Improved tourism products await those travelling to Tunisia in the years to come.

The Social Media Newsroom of ITB Berlin has online information at http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en on this story as well as other news from the world's leading travel trade show.

The three top stories on Thursday, 5 March 2015

Maldives: the official partner country of ITB Berlin 2016http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/contract-signed-maldives-will-be-partner-country-itb-berlin-2016

The Maldives expects that the partnership with ITB Berlin will attract a visitor increase of around eight per cent. Next year this island paradise will be the partner country of the world's largest travel trade show. Preparations for the rise in tourist numbers are going apace. New resorts including the new Thumburi project will provide additional accommodation for holidaymakers in the mid-range price segment. As of December 2015 Lufthansa will be flying once a week from Frankfurt to Mal on the largest island in the Maldives.

The future of bookings belongs to mobile devices http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/mobile-usage-dominating-travel-market-easy-quick-and-relevant-information-one-page

Mobile devices are tightening their grip on the travel market. By 2020 there will be around 18 billion smartphones and tablets in use around the world, said Arne Erichsen, Market Manager Expedia at the ITB Berlin Convention. In 2016 mobile devices will be used to book one in every five overnights in Germany, twice as many as in 2013. The tourism markets need to be prepared for this demand with products and interfaces to suit. Features required will include easy and quick smartphone navigation for obtaining relevant information that can fit onto one page.

Tunisia has a new tourism concept http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/tunisia-looking-stability-and-growth

Following the political upheavals of 2011 Tunisia is looking for stability and growth again. Besides beach tourism, which remains the mainstay of the tourism market, the aim is to establish alternative tourism, for example tours with the country's historical train line, and music festivals. Thalasso therapy, city and cultural tourism are among other areas intended to attract more visitors. Tourism numbers have already risen. In 2014 figures increased by 0.3 per cent compared to 2013. The same year Tunisia was visited by 425,648 tourists from Germany, which after France was the second most important source market.