Day one of World Travel Market London on 5 November saw the ExCeL centre packed. Alongside the gigantic exhibition was a busy conference schedule featuring speakers from across the world.
With global travel partner the Saudi Tourism Authority, WTM London hailed the economic and cultural importance of the sector. Speaking at the Global Welcome, WTM portfolio director Jonathan Heastie said: “The halls are packed already for what is the biggest WTM London to date. More than 4,000 exhibitors have joined us this year; there are delegates here from 184 countries around the world.
“It is a remarkable turnout and I think it’s going to be a remarkable World Travel Market gathering. This time last year, £2.2bn worth of travel deals were done in these halls”.
In the European hall, Italian and Spanish stands took the prize for most area covered, with France and Britain barely occupying a fifth of their size. Meanwhile, Uzbekhistan tried a different method, drawing crowds to its share of the floor with a three-piece band in traditional dress.
Fahd Hamidaddin, chief executive and board member for Saudi Tourism Authority, added: “Tourism powers economies more than anything. The jobs we create are the jobs for the young, the entrepreneurs, for the remote, for the mom-and-pop shops and for the new rising talents. When we travel, we go with our best intentions.”
At the end of the day, sessions concluded with a debate on whether technology was causing new complexities or whether it was the processes embedded into the global aviation industry. The audience voted 50/50.
A number of novelties occurred, with Visit Maldives choosing to launch ‘the world’s biggest holiday giveaway’, offering one travel prize per week in a bid to attract travellers from new markets.
India, meanwhile, showcased its free e-visa initiative, Chalo India. Mugdha Sinha, director-general of the country’s tourism ministry, urged those in the Indian diaspora around the world to encourage five non-Indian friends to sign up for the scheme.
Another busy day is scheduled for today, day two of WTM London, 6 November.
