DRLondon: WTM London 2019 – the event where ideas arrive – saw a 77 per cent increase in ministerial attendance as well as a higher quality of WTM Buyers’ Club Members. It confirms WTM London as the place for senior travel professionals to interact, connect and understand the trends that will determine the future of the tourism industry.
In total, almost 50,000 visitors from 182 countries attended the three-day event at ExCeL London. There were around 1.2 million business meetings conducted and over 110 conference sessions held. This all contributed to a total of £3.75 billion worth of travel industry business deals being signed.
With high-profile events such as the annual Leaders’ Lunch and the UNWTO & WTM Ministerial Summit, tourism ministers flocked to the event; there was a 77% increase, taking it from 43 Ministers in 2018 to 76 this year.
WTM London’s Senior Exhibition Director, Simon Press said: “WTM London 2019 was unquestionably a great success. We are delighted to have been able to facilitate the business and creative connections of 50,000 attendees, exhibitors, buyers and media in order to form the future of the travel industry.
“By welcoming almost 80 Tourism Ministers and increasing the quality of Buyers’ Club members at the event this year, it proves that WTM London is not only the event where ideas arrive, but where decisions are made. We challenge ourselves to keep developing this event and to make sure that everyone who travels to WTM London, Travel Forward and London Travel Week – as well as BorderlessLive in September – gets the best possible experience. With more than £3.75 billion worth of deals being generated at WTM London 2019 – this has shown how crucial it is to attend from a business perspective. We are incredibly proud of all that WTM London has achieved in the last 40 years and can’t wait to see how it develops over the next forty years.”
Trade Talk
PHIPHAT RATCHAKITPRAKARN
Minister of Tourism and Sports, Thailand
“This year, we will welcome around 40 million visitors. However, the rapid pace of growth has opened up bigger challenges that we need to address. In the months ahead, we will completely overhaul the way travel and tourism is managed and structured with a clear focus on ensuring the preservation of natural resources, destination management, administrative controls, regulatory enforcement, and much more. The goal is to spread the benefits of tourism to the rural areas, reduce the income gap and create jobs. We are also committed to enhancing the contribution of tourism towards sustainability. For tourists, this will mean higher levels of clean and well-managed sites, reduced waste and garbage, almost complete elimination of plastic, and other related issues. Community-based tourism will also be highlighted”
RANIA AL-MASHAT
Minister of Tourism, Egypt
“Egypt’s tourism industry grew 35 per cent in 2017, 30 per cent in 2018 and we anticipate at least 15 per cent growth in 2019; the result of a new tourism policy framework with a clear vision. With the Egypt – Tourism Reform Program (E-TRP), we have embraced modern adverting tools such as digitalisation and branded content to target different tourist segments and demographies. Travel and tourism generates 15 per cent of the country’s GDP and is a priority for job creation and investment. The overarching objective of the E-TRP is for at least one Egyptian in every household to work in the tourism sector. Western Europe remains our top source market but we are trying to tap into Eastern Europe, the US as well as China”
RAKI PHILLIPS
Chief Executive Officer
RAK Tourism Development Authority
“As part of expanding its overseas operations, SpiceJet has announced a direct flight from New Delhi to Ras Al Khaimah in December. This will certainly enhance the connectivity with India, which is one among the top source markets of RAK. Over the last few years, RAK has significantly expanded its adventure tourism activities and emerged as the adventure hub of the Middle East. At WTM London, we are promoting the new Jebel Jais Zipline tour. In Q1 2020, we are expecting the launch of Bear Grylls Survival Academy in Jebel Jais. As far as the hospitality industry is concerned, new openings include Hampton Inn by Hilton in April 2020 on Marjan Island, the first Hampton Inn Resort in the world; Park Inn by Radisson on Marjan Island in summer 2020; Anantara by end of 2020”
KHALID JASSIM AL MIDFA
Chairman, Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority
“In 2019, we have launched promotional campaigns in Scandinavia, northern Europe and the Far East. We did roadshows to make Chinese tourists aware of the UAE’s visa on arrival facility. This is the 17th time Sharjah Tourism is participating in WTM London. The event allows us to raise awareness about Sharjah’s growing tourism sector and enables us to put Sharjah on the world tourism map, thus bringing us closer to our goal of attracting 10 million visitors by 2021. In 2018, we witnessed 24 per cent increase in terms of hotel guests from the European market as more than 5,78,000 people from the continent travelled to Sharjah. We hope and look forward to increasing the numbers further in the coming years”
DATUK AHMAD SHAH HUSSEIN TAMBAKAU
Chairman, Tourism Malaysia
“This year’s participation in WTM London is significant as we are promoting the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign which targets 30 million tourists and RM100 billion in terms of tourism receipts. It focuses on ecotourism, arts & culture, befitting the National Ecotourism Plan 2016-2025 and the National Culture Policy. More than 100 events have been lined up for next year’s celebrations. Asia Golf Tourism Conference (AGTC) will be on March 30 to April 2, 2020 organised by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. We will also host PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in 2020. The Malaysia Year of Healthcare Travel, also happening in 2020, will strengthen Visit Malaysia Campaign 2020. Malaysia welcomed 1.2 million healthcare travellers in 2018 alone”
THOYYIB MOHAMED
MD, Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC)
“Maldives welcomed a total of 83,089 visitors from the UK as of January – August 2019, showing a 10.5 per cent increase from the 75,025 in the same period in 2018. The UK is one of the most important markets for inbound tourist arrivals, holding 7.3 per cent of the total market share and steadily increasing YoY. Maldives has undergone an expansion of its tourism infrastructure this year with an influx of new resorts, including several new family-friendly and adult-only properties, as well as high-end properties. The new international passenger terminal building, which has been designed to offer IATA B service, will have an increased built-up area of more than 78,000 sq.m. It will allow the terminal to accommodate up to 7.5 million passengers annually”
SALIM AL MAMARI
Director General
Oman Ministry of Tourism
“Europe is our main source market with the UK, France, Germany and Italy collectively growing 12 per cent in Jan-Aug 2019 from the previous year. India is another key growth market for Oman. In 2020, we shall promote the lesser known areas of the country such as Salalah and Musandam. The national carrier, Oman Air will be consolidating its network over 2019 and 2020. The focus will be on attracting European passengers to Oman. Soft adventure activities such as diving in Musandam and camping in the desert at A’Sharqiyah Sands are getting popular. Oman is home to the second largest cave chamber in the world, Majlis Al Jinn. W Muscat opened earlier this year and JW Marriott Muscat is due to open anytime soon. Jumeirah Muscat bay and Dhahab Resort in Qurayyat are both due to open in 2020”
DR. JOE Y CHOU
Director General
Taiwan Tourism Bureau
“Our main theme for 2020 is mountains, thus focussing on the destination’s mountainous landscape, as well as the wonderful range of outdoor activities on offer such as hiking, mountain climbing, river tracing and cycling. Taiwan is abundantly endowed with mountains and over 200 of its peaks measure more than 3000 m high. Jade Mountain (Yushan) is Taiwan’s tallest mountain at 3952 m and is located within the Yushan National Park just next to the famous Alishan National Scenic Area in the central mountains of Taiwan. In 2018, Taiwan attracted more than 11 million visitors from all over the world, compared to 10.7 million in 2017. The UK dominates the European market, delivering 71,000 tourists to Taiwan last year, followed by Germany (65,330)”
