COMMENT: World Travel Market, which starts today (until Thursday) at East London”s ExCel exhibition centre looks like it will hit record figures in terms of attendance. More than 5,000 exhibitors from over 190 countries will be exhibiting at what is the 25th show and the third one to be sited at the controversial dockland site.
"There is a real sense of optimism among exhibitors this year," said Reed Plc Group Exhibition Director, Fiona Jeffery. "We are therefore cautiously forecasting a record event to coincide with our silver anniversary. World Travel Market has always mirrored the ups and downs of the industry and I am delighted that the signs are there for a fantastic year at this landmark moment in our history.
"VisitBritain's reports that 12.5m visitors travelled to the UK in the first half of this year, a rise of 13% on 2003 and the 'best-ever' January to June period. During the first six months of the year European markets have been on the upward swing. Spain ended the year to May with a 3.8% increase over the same period last year and Germany is showing a 10% increase in arrivals for the first quarter of 2004 and 3% in tourism receipts until April. France's overnight stays in hotels and similar establishments during the first five months grew by 1.4% over last year's decrease of 7% in the same period. Even the US is showing a small increase in inbound traffic and long haul travel generally appears to be on target to get back to pre-9/11 levels.
The change in the industry's fortunes is thought to be behind the rush of new 'names' planning on exhibiting for the first time on their own stands.
"For example, the Central Asia republic of Uzbekistan is here following a decision by the government to put the destination firmly on the tourist map," said Ms Jeffery. I understand that the problem is that many people are unfamiliar with the country, even though all their cities are full of historical sights. Uzbekistan Airways flies from London and Birmingham to the capital Tashkent and the republic is featured in a handful of specialist travel brochures in the UK, but it has failed in the past to attract much interest until now, partly because of the difficulty of travelling around the destination that was once firmly in the grip of the USSR”.
In addition to Uzbekistan, three other African countries are exhibiting for the first time ” Lesotho, Mali and Gabon.
In total, there are more than 70 new exhibitors including: Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development from the United Arab Emirates; South Africa's Cape Info SA, Mali, Knysna Tourism, Islands in Africa; Italy's Domina Hotels & Resorts; Georgia State Department of Tourism; Sunswept Resorts and Impact Disk from the UK; Spain's Turismo Andaluz, Lopesan Hotels & Resorts and Pandaw Cruises; Global Discovery from the Netherlands; Hotel Baia from Turkey; Masafiri Travels from Tanzania; Instituto de Hospitalidade, Brazil and Paliz Tours from Iran.
In spite of all the world”s troubles people are travelling more and more. According to the World Tourism Organisation Worldwide (WTO), the number of international holiday arrivals during the eight months reached around 526m, 12% more than in the corresponding period of 2003. And WTO points out that this year”s figures benefited from comparison with a war and SARS in 2003, they still represent growth of 41m or 9% over 2002, the previous record year. It is never going to be easy but the travel industry is prospering. And 2005 looks like being even better.
http://ww.worldtravelmart.co.uk