Opening ITB Berlin Responsible Tourism Track
Summary
Opening session of the ITB Berlin 2026 Responsible Tourism Track, hosted by Prof. Dr. Willy Legrand (IU International University of Applied Sciences) and moderated by Katie Gallus.
The session previews a full-day program organized around three core themes: adaptation, conservation, and regeneration — framed not as aspirational buzzwords but as actions the tourism industry must actually take. Morning sessions address whether AI can support biodiversity, a global executive survey on climate adaptation readiness in destinations, and whether tourism can protect the ecosystems it sells (featuring WWF Germany). Afternoon sessions debate whether regeneration is a genuine paradigm shift or rebranded sustainability, highlight women founders driving regenerative leadership in travel, and explore how satellites and citizen science can deepen relationships with place.
The day closes at 5:00 PM with a keynote by Tes Petazan, the first person to visit every country on Earth without flying (author of 'The Impossible Journey'), followed by three practitioner stories proving the impossible is achievable in tourism.
Key Takeaways
- •The day's three organizing themes are adaptation, conservation, and regeneration — framed as things tourism must 'actually do, not aspire to, not report on' (Prof. Dr. Legrand).
- •A morning session asks whether AI can save the biodiversity that tourism depends on, and whether we understand biodiversity well enough to know what we are asking technology to do.
- •An executive global survey on climate adaptation will be presented, examining how prepared destinations currently are.
- •WWF Germany and a futurist will demonstrate what it looks like in practice for tourism to protect the ecosystems it sells.
- •An afternoon debate will challenge whether regenerative tourism is a real paradigm shift or 'sustainability with a better branding' — featuring Anna Pollock, David Levenal, and Susanna Beckin.
- •The closing keynote at 5:00 PM features Tes Petazan, the first and only person to visit every country on Earth without flying, author of 'The Impossible Journey', followed by three practitioner stories.
- •The overarching question framing all 10 sessions: 'Can tourism lead itself into balance, and who is already showing it can?'
Transcript
Welcome everybody here for the ITV convention 2026. It's great to see you here in Berlin. Can we hear you? [laughter] And of course, ladies and gentlemen, good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, depending on the time zone you are joining us from. It's such a pleasure to have you with us here at the ITB convention. Right, Willie? >> Yes, indeed. Good morning, and welcome to day three of the ITB convention 2026. My name is Willie Leon. a professor at the IU International University of Appli...
