Vicky here from Tracking Tourism
February 29, 2008
Greetings from Scotland and the Tracking Tourism b2b blog.
Having just finished live blogging from Scotland’s Tourism Innovation Day yesterday (where Stephen was really earning his keep as workshop host) I’m really happy to start turning my mind back to ITB.
I must say, having looked through the people I want to meet with and interview, the sheer scale of ITB seems pretty overwhelming. If I achieve one thing, I want to talk with Incredible India and find out how their destination development is going ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. With Scotland hosting the games in 2014, and of course the 2012 London Olympics, I truly believe India is a destination to watch. Not least because like Scotland, Ireland, Mexico and Isreal, they also realise the importance and value of Diaspora tourism.
Also on my ITB hitlist is the Faroe Islands. Here at Highland Business Research we love islands. We were proud to research and develop the tourism strategy for Shetland, recently voted one of the world’s top island destinations - and Faroe is intriguing because it is so near to the North of Scotland, yet so utterly distinct in culture. I’m keen to understand their tourism USPs and how they balance tourism with a unique and remote way of life.
I’m also really looking forward to visiting Berlin itself. Berlin holds great memories for me. Stephen (my husband and Tracking Tourism co-author) lived there when we were students and it is the first place I ever encountered where beer was cheaper than coffee. Stephen introduced me to the marvels of CurryWurst (which I look forward to repeating) and I’m pretty sure my German still extends to asking the way to the stadium and buying train tickets to Leipzig. Hopefully ITB is in a stadium 
Naturally, most of my goals for ITB are worthy, serious and highly travel and blog focussed. But if we get a few hours to play, I’m hoping to see Cabaret - in Berlin, in a Cabaret. How cool is that? Any musical loving bloggers want to join me, as there are seats on Thursday night?
I’m also really looking forward to the bloggers summit and the workshops. Florida PhoCusWright was a terrific experience and I’m hoping both to share some of that and learn some more from you guys when we meet in Berlin.
Forgive any typos as its past my bedtime - and I look forward to engaging with you again (in person or by blog) next week!
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