Representatives of more than 10,000 tourist companies of more than 180 countries are meeting for this year's ITB Berlin.

The international tourism exhibition is having its official opening ceremony in Berlin today. Mongolia is preparing its first presentation for participation in the exhibition as an official partner country and other preparation work is due for completion.

Billboards along the roads to the exhibition venue are advertising travel to Mongolia and other countries participating in ITB.

Sixteen Mongolian tour operators and two hotels popular with tourists are participating in the exhibition on an official basis, and more than 50 more tour companies are participating as observers.

The logo for Mongolia at ITB is the Mongolian national ger, which is a treasured Mongolian tradition. Four gers have been built in the exhibition halls of the 160,000 square meter venue, Messe Berlin. Mongolian promotion and advertising occupies 400 square meters of the exhibit hall.

It has taken 1.5 years in order to deliver for this major event for the public.

About 300 Mongolian participants are taking part in the exhibition, including representatives from the media, state, private sector, and industry organizations.