DRLondon: The India Tourism Pavilion was inaugurated by Rashmi Verma IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism as part of WTM London 2018 at ExCel London Exhibition and Convention Centre here on November 5.
The Kerala Tourism pavilion at the hugely-awaited international event was inaugurated by Kadakampally Surendran, Minister of Tourism, Kerala. The Minister was joined by Kerala Tourism Secretary Rani George IAS; R Rahul IRS, MD, KTDC; Abraham George of Intersight Tours and Travels; Riyaz UC of Spiceland Holidays and Jibran Asif of Abad Hotels and Resorts. Kerala is at the event to make the message clear that tourism is back to normal after the State was ravaged by the floods in August.
This year, WTM London will add seven regionally-focused Inspiration Zones to the show – UK & Ireland, Europe & Mediterranean, Middle East & North Africa, Asia, International and Africa – to make the event more focused on specific destinations.
Other changes to this year’s event include the WTM Global Stage becoming an Amphitheatre that can accommodate 400 delegates.
WTM London has key exhibitors from the Middle East this year which includes Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTC), Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Ajman Tourism Development Department, Oman Ministry of Tourism and Jordan Tourism Board. Other exhibitors include Saudia Airline, QE2 Shipping LLC and Al-Muhaidb Group of Hotel Apartments & Grand Plaza Hotels.
The global event for the travel industry, WTM saw 50,000-plus participants in 2017, including 10,500 buyers conducting business worth over US$4.02 billion. Organisers are predicting a record year for 2018.
