WTM 2017: Travel Weekly coverage

With World Travel Market 2017 underway at London's ExCeL Centre, stay tuned to travelweekly.co.uk for all the latest from the event

 

Special Reports: WTM stand and WTM seminar guides, Laura French and Katie McGonagle pick out highlights of this year's event

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Costa Rica reports 8% increase in UK visitors Destination set for further boost with addition of third weekly direct flight

 

Cape Verde to eliminate visas for EU citizens New rules expected to come into force in May or June 2018

 

Antigua tourism ‘essential' to sister island's recovery Barbuda was ripped apart by hurricane Irma, with almost 90% of structures damaged or destroyed

 

Balearic Islands sustainable projects get underway Tourism Tax introduced in July 2016 will help fund around 100 initiatives

 

Ditched state of emergency in Paris ‘frightened' tourists French capital enjoying tourist resurgence after 15-month slump

 

UK agents urged to book Seattle cruise-and-stays Trend already being seen among domestic cruise passengers, says tourism authority.

 

US ‘well-placed' to ride out challenges in UK market Brand USA believes that trade engagement and increased air services demonstrate strength

 

Global travellers show ‘resilience' in wake of New York terror attack Recent terror attack had ‘no discernible effect on bookings'

 

Colorado gears up for new flights and IPW conference New routes from UK will promote state to a raft of potential visitors

 

Visit Pittsburgh targets UK after 10-year WTM absence City looks to promote itself as ‘real America'

 

Tahiti Tourisme to promote agents who pass training modules Contact details will be added to consumer facing website

 

TAP portal to help agents capitalise on stopovers Airline initiative to encourage more passengers to spend time in Lisbon

 

Growth on track, says independent hotel loyalty scheme Wanup [Travolution] Programme on track to sign up 7,000 properties in first year of launch

 

Peakwork tech powering a new dynamic package holiday market [Travolution] Tech firm says market on cusp of an explosion in competitiveness

 

British Airways boss 'digital is everything' [Travolution] Industry must adapt to trends or be 'overrun by retailers' says Alex Cruz

 

Industry alarmed by plans for London tourism tax The London Assembly is asking for devolved powers to levy a tax on visitors

 

Hotelbeds offering hits 170,000 properties Range particularly expanded in North American and Asia-Pacific markets

 

Magaluf regeneration plan on track, says tourism bosses Five-year transformation plan 'starting to reap rewards after two years'

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Tuesday November 7

 

Inbound tourism boom follows Brexit vote Weaker pound has made UK much more affordable, says Euromonitor

 

Setouchi Tourism Authority to target UK trade DMO seeking UK tour operators to collaborate with

 

Visit Florida to boost UK marketing spend by 45% in 2018 Body to launch $2m campaign from January 2018

 

Sri Lanka aims to double UK visitor numbers by 2020 Number of five-star rooms to increase by 3,000 over next three years

 

Ras Al Khaimah announces fam trip programme Emirate also unveils first agent training programme

 

Sharing economy and package market can coexist, says Tui boss Two models can live side by side, Nick Longman tells WTM session

 

South African Tourism promotes centenary of Nelson Mandela's birth Agents urged to capitalise on events and activities planned for 2018

 

Texas to ‘pull strong' after tragedy Response to recent incidents ‘showcases state's community spirit', say tourism chiefs

 

Abu Dhabi credits trade for driving visitor growth UK arrivals up 5% year-on-year in first nine months of 2017

 

Massachusetts tourism boss hails low-cost and regional flights Marketing chief concedes Boston lacks affordable hotel product

 

Greek hotelier blasts government over tourist tax 'The person who proposed this is clearly misguided', says MD of Aldemar Resorts

 

Japanese hotel brand aims to capitalise on 2019 Rugby World Cup Prince Hotels targets 15% of bookings from European markets

 

Caribbean-wide campaign to drive message region is open for business Governments and private sector asked to raise $1m for social media push

 

Greece bills itself as year-round destination Country has extended summer season from March to November

 

AmaWaterways to roll out golf packages to international markets Move follows 'huge appeal and success' in UK trial

 

Mauritius challenges UK trade to overtake France as top source market Tourist board to host events in 2018 to celebrate 50 years of independence

 

Caribbean laments ‘ignorance' for drop in post-hurricane arrivals Recovery message of business as usual to cost ‘million and millions of dollars'

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Monday November 6

 

Voluntourism project to help hurricane recovery on Anguilla Website created to provide status of accommodation, restaurants and attractions

 

BA boss commits to trade as he announces £4.5bn investment Alex Cruz commits praises importance of travel agents to airline

 

Tui boss says ‘hard' Brexit will lead to tighter holiday budgets Consumers could trade down or reduce breaks, says Nick Longman

 

Brexit ‘weakens' Europe's position in world UK departure is 'failure' of the EU, says Guy Verhofstadt MEP

 

Kenya outlines tourism strategy Country to develop infrastructure and and add niche product

 

Serbia reports UK visitor numbers at 20-year high Growth attributed to new touring product and improved infrastructure

 

Tunisia aims to broaden it's appeal beyond a beach destination Country targets more than doubling of UK visitors in 2018

 

Palladium Connect agent programme unveiled Platform brings together agent training, incentives and news

 

Las Vegas thanks trade for ‘positive' response following mass shooting Destination has not seen noticeable dip in bookings following October 1 incident

 

Barbados announces shift to 'more-focused' fam trips Island to move away from mega-fams in favour of small-groups

 

Rwanda hopes luxury lodge openings will boost stay durations Average visit is four days, the usual length of time for gorilla trekking

 

UK ‘lagging behind' says Egyptian ambassador Sharm el-Sheikh is safer than some British airports, says Nasser Kamel

 

Universal Orlando to add two new 'value-driven' hotels Properties' 2,800 rooms to cost no more than $100 per night

 

‘New' Daytona Beach urges UK trade to help increase demand Destination aims to re-open international terminal at its airport

 

Dubai Parks and Resorts announces The Hunger Games attraction Plans complete Lionsgate Zone at Motiongate Dubai

 

Brits fear post Brexit hike in holiday prices More than half respondents polled concerned about exchange rates

 

Terrorism concerns among Brits on the rise, survey finds Third more travellers worried about attack than a year ago

 

Travel firms raise fears over post-Brexit overseas recruitment Over 40% anticipate staffing will be affected when UK leaves EU

 

‘Seen on TV' destinations turn into holiday hotspots Poll finds 10% have chosen break based on a favourite TV show

 

New bed bank to be launched by dnata Emirates-owned travel firm will unveil Yalago at show