Travel fever is in the air on the first CMT weekend

Around 70,000 people get inspiration for their next trip / bike and outdoor fans still get their money's worth on Monday

For Germans, vacation trips are a cherished habit and high on the priority list. That was the conclusion of the travel analysis for 2024. And that is exactly what will become clear in the halls at the CMT in Stuttgart on the first weekend. “You can tell that people want to travel again. The CMT offers the perfect platform to find out about the latest travel and caravanning trends. There is always a wide range of offerings here,” says Roland Bleinroth, Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart. Around 70,000 people visited the world's largest public trade fair for tourism and leisure on the first weekend. “The atmosphere in the halls was great. The exhibitors can look back on interesting conversations, leisure vehicles were sold and trips were booked,” says Bleinroth. The supporting program in the atrium with our show partner, the Europa Park, in the holiday cinema and in the cycling and outdoor hall also attracted a large audience.

CMT: flagship for Stuttgart and Baden-Württemberg

The importance of CMT was illustrated by Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg, in her speech at the opening event. “The fact that Messe Stuttgart has been the venue for the world’s largest public trade fair for tourism and leisure for many years makes me proud as Minister of Economics and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of our state trade fair,” she said on stage. The CMT is an important flagship for Stuttgart and for the whole of Baden-Württemberg. It is considered the leading tourism trade fair and an industry barometer.

The Philippines and the Swabian Alb are enthusiastic

There were happy faces at the stand of this year's partners. The first weekend couldn't have gone better for the partner country Philippines. “We were able to welcome a lot of visitors to our beach,” says Daks Gonzales, Director of Central Europe at the Philippine Tourist Office in Frankfurt. The Philippines will be represented with a colorful stand in the Mahle Hall (Hall 4). “We notice that there is great interest in our country. After all, it is a perfect travel destination for many target groups – whether diving fans, hiking lovers, those interested in culture or foodies.”

Mike Münzing, managing director of the Swabian Alb Tourism Association, also draws a positive conclusion. The gourmet partner Swabian Alb presents itself in the Oskar Lapp Hall (Hall 6). “We look back on two wonderful first CMT days. Our employees were constantly in discussions with both long-established Alb fans and those who were newly interested,” said Münzing. “We are pleased that the culinary partnership is so well received. There are countless locally and sustainably produced products in our region that we can give a platform to at CMT.”

Action continues until Monday at Fahrrad- & WanderReisen

There was also a rush in Hall 9, where the cycling & hiking trips are taking place until Monday, January 15th. “There was action in the air in the hall,” says Guido von Vacano, member of the management team at Messe Stuttgart. “The exhibitors are happy, different bikes were constantly being tried out on the course and the places in front of the stage were almost always occupied. We are completely satisfied.” At the stand of the ADFC, partner of Fahrrad- & WanderReisen, visitors found out more about cycling destinations and the topic of gravel biking. “Our long-distance cycle paths are all ADFC-certified. The visitors and the stand appreciate this quality,” says Nina Schaal, project manager for tourism marketing and consulting at the ADFC. There was also a lot of traffic at the Japanese Tourist Office stand. This year, Japan presented itself as an outdoor destination. “We are particularly well received for the cycle paths in Japan,” says Angela Troisi, Digital Marketing Manager. “The response has been great and we are happy to be here again and will definitely be back next year.”

Outlook: Lots of inspiration in the next few days

Visitors can also expect a full program in the coming CMT days. Wednesday, January 17th is all about traveling with your dog. In addition to information stands in the east entrance, there are lectures on topics such as “How do I find the perfect vacation with a dog?”, a first aid course and much more. The gourmet partner Swabian Alb is the focus of the Älbertag, which takes place on Friday, January 19th. One highlight is, among other things, the live cooking show with regional products in the atrium at 1 p.m. The second CMT weekend, from January 18th to 21st, also has a lot in store for active holidaymakers: in Hall 9, exhibitors will show what trips they have in store for golf, wellness and cruises.

The CMT 2024

The CMT, the world's largest public trade fair for tourism and leisure, will take place from January 13th to 21st, 2024 at Messe Stuttgart. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Further information is available at www.cmt-messe.de

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