OWT presents Oberhausen at the ITB in Berlin
Strong presence at the world's largest tourism trade fair
From March 3rd to 5th, OWT Oberhausener Wirtschafts- und Tourismusförderung GmbH (Oberhausen Economic and Tourism Development Corporation) represented the city of Oberhausen at the International Tourism Exchange Berlin (ITB). At the booth of the Tourism Association of North Rhine-Westphalia, the OWT tourism team presented the tourist highlights and future trends of Oberhausen to an international audience of industry professionals.
As the world's largest tourism trade fair, ITB Berlin is considered the central industry meeting place for destinations, tour operators, hotels, and tourism service providers. Accordingly, OWT made intensive use of the opportunity to exchange ideas with leisure providers, media representatives, bloggers, tour operators, and online platforms. Discussions with key partners such as the German National Tourist Board (DZT) were also on the agenda. The focus was on new collaborations and joint strategies for further market development.
The presentation of the upcoming exhibition “Forest Worlds” received considerable attention at the Gasometer Oberhausen at the NRW Forum at ITB. Furthermore, other topics provided ample material for discussion, including the 30th anniversary of the Westfield Centro as well as the upcoming opening of the first Karls Adventure Village in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Mayor and State Secretary visit
The trade fair appearance also received strong political support: Oberhausen's mayor, Thorsten Berg, visited the OWT stand, as did Silke Krebs, State Secretary in the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Both emphasized the great opportunities that arise for Oberhausen through its consistent further development as a tourism and leisure destination.
Thorsten Berg: “The tourism and leisure market in Oberhausen is an important economic factor for our city and the region. With over 610.000 overnight stays in 2025, the signs clearly point to growth,” emphasizes Mayor Thorsten Berg.
"The exceptional experience offered by Oberhausen, with its blend of industrial heritage, shopping opportunities, and cultural and sporting activities, is attracting increasing numbers of visitors. It is important to me that we continue to promote this development in Oberhausen and position our city internationally as a destination for city breaks with a high experiential value."
Oberhausen will host the Germany Travel Mart™ 2026
Another key future topic that also generated considerable interest at ITB Berlin is the hosting of the Germany Travel Mart (GTM). From April 19 to 21, 2026, Oberhausen will host the largest and most important workshop for German inbound tourism. The event is organized by the German National Tourist Board.
“Our presence at the International Tourism Exchange in Berlin impressively demonstrated that Oberhausen is increasingly being recognized as a destination both nationally and internationally. In numerous discussions, we sensed the great interest in our dynamic development,” explains Dr. Andreas Henseler, OWT Managing Director.
"With the upcoming exhibition 'Forest Worlds' in the Gasometer Oberhausen “We are once again setting a cultural benchmark with a reach far beyond the region. At the same time, with the establishment of the first Karls Adventure Village in North Rhine-Westphalia, we are creating an additional, highly attractive, family-oriented travel destination. And 30 years of Neue Mitte Oberhausen exemplify the successful structural transformation of our city – from an industrial center to a leisure and adventure destination,” adds Rainer Suhr, Head of Tourism at OWT.
“These projects demonstrate that Oberhausen is consistently developing further. We are investing in quality, diversity, and new target groups,” said Dr. Henseler. “Therefore, ITB was not only a presentation platform for us, but also an important catalyst for further collaborations and international market opportunities.”
3936 characters, excl. heading
BU: Mayor Thorsten Berg at the OWT booth at ITB, © OWT GmbH
Press contact: OWT Oberhausen Economic and Tourism Development GmbH, Marcel Sroka, Tel. (0208) 850 36-33, E-Mail: marcel.sroka@owtgmbh.de, Centroallee 269, 46047 Oberhausen