The Ministry of Tourism has announced that it is spending EUR2 million to stage the Dominican Republic’s participation as Official Partner Country in the 42nd ITB Berlin, this coming 5-9 March. The exhibition is open to trade visitors from 5-7 March from 10am to 6pm, and to trade visitors and the general public from 8-9 March, from 10am to 6pm. The ITB trade show is considered the world’s leading event, where exhibitors and visitors can find all the links in the added value chain of the tourism industry, with the participation of more than 180 countries in the 26 halls covering a display area of 160,000 square meters. Over 10,923 companies are registered to participate, over three quarters of whom come from abroad. An estimated 110,000 trade visitors and almost 70,000 general public visitors are expected to visit. Organizers estimate that over five billion euros worth of business is transacted at the event.