Press release: Programme announced for the 14th Accessible Tourism Day organised by the German National Tourist Board on 4 March 2026

Frankfurt am Main, 23 February 2026 – The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has published the programme for the 14th Accessible Tourism Day, taking place on 4 March 2026 as part of ITB Berlin. National and international experts from academia and industry, politics and professional associations will discuss the latest findings, current strategies and progress in inclusive travel.

Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB, comments: “Inclusion is a core element of our strategy to position Germany as a customer- and service-oriented quality destination in an increasingly competitive international market. An attractive portfolio of accessible products for people requiring inclusive services is essential to achieving this goal. Accessible Tourism Day also provides an established platform for sharing experience and addressing inclusion effectively through dialogue between travellers, policymakers and industry representatives.”

“We want to further strengthen the cross-border development of accessible tourism in the interests of travellers, the tourism industry and all stakeholders involved in the sector,” adds André Nowak, spokesperson for the Tourism Working Group of the German Disability Council (DBR). “The Accessible Tourism Day, organised by the GNTB as part of the ITB programme, provides an excellent opportunity to do so, and we at the DBR expressly support this initiative.”

The event will be opened by Dr Christoph Ploß MP, Federal Government Coordinator for Tourism. Welcome addresses will be delivered by Jürgen Dusel, Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities, and André Nowak, spokesperson for the Tourism Working Group of the DBR.

In his keynote address, John Sage, CEO of Accessible Travel Solutions & Sage Traveling (USA), will explain why progress in accessibility is set to accelerate and how society as a whole can benefit. The GNTB will also present its latest study, “Mobility and Accessibility Requirements of Travellers from Europe.”

Further topics on the agenda include the development and marketing of accessible cultural offerings, the added value of effective communication, cooperation between international tour operators and destination marketing organisations, the potential of digital assistance through AI, VR and wearable technologies for accessible tourism, as well as best-practice examples in destination management and inclusive experiences on and around water.

Speakers and panellists include representatives of renowned cultural institutions in Germany, associations, international tour operators, destinations and researchers, among them the Humboldt Forum Foundation in the Berlin Palace, Wheel the World (Chile/USA) and Bayern Tourist GmbH.

Accessible Tourism Day will take place at Messe Berlin, CityCube, Hall A5. The event will also be streamed online. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and supported by Messe Berlin/ITB. The programme was developed by the GNTB in collaboration with the project advisory board, including the “AG Leichter Reisen” (Working Group on Easier Travel), the “Tourism for All” working group of the state tourism organisations and the Tourism Working Group of the German Disability Council.

The conference languages are German and English (with simultaneous interpretation). Sign language and speech-to-text interpreters will also be provided. An ITB ticket is required for on-site participation. Online participation is free of charge.

The full programme and registration details are available at:
www.germany.travel/tdbt