Sporting chances set to pull in the crowds

UK and Channel Islands by Linsey McNeill

Sporting chances set to pull in the crowds

UK aims to flaunt its competitive edge

Wales

Wales will have an outdoor theme this year, promoting the various activities available to visitors, ranging from golfing holidays to touring national gardens.

The Wales Tourist Board will also flag up the fact that the destination will be hosting some major sporting events, including the FA Cup Final and the Network Q Rally of Great Britain over the next three years.

It also hopes to attract at least one golfing celebrity to the show. This will be in the hope of boosting its chance to host the Ryder Cup 2009 competition, for which it has put in a bid, together with the Celtic Manor Resort.

Highlands: exhibiting for the first time

Scotland

The Scottish Tourist Board will have 21 partners at this year’s World Travel Market.

This number is slightly fewer than at last year’s show, although its stand – in the shape of the St Andrew’s flag – will occupy the same amount of space.

Of the 21 stand partners, first time exhibitors include Cala Hotels, Highlands, Loch Ness – More than a Monster, Lomond Shores, Scottish Tours and Glasgow City Travel Inn Metro.

The Scottish Tourist Board plans to focus on promoting a variety of new and established visitor attractions, including the highly-acclaimed Our Dynamic Earth, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Museum of Scotland.

Britain

Sport will be the British Tourist Authority’s central theme at this year’s World Travel Market as part of its strategy to host more international sporting events in Britain. It will join forces with Manchester, the host of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

A new campaign will also be launched to promote Britain’s gardens. This will include print advertising and a Web site providing information on gardens open to visitors.

BTA chairman David Quarmby will be visiting the stand on Monday, November 13, with tourism minister Janet Anderson. The English Tourism Council is not taking a stand at WTM.

On course: sport will form the central theme of the BTA’s campaign

Ireland

The tourist boards of Northern Ireland and Ireland have joined forces for the fifth consecutive year to create an All-Ireland stand at World Travel Market. The Irish Tourist Board will launch its 2001 brochure, offering a comprehensive guide to Ireland. Ireland’s minister for arts and heritage Sile De Valera will be on the stand at 5pm on November 13, for the launch of the Duchas brochure, which lists Ireland’s heritage attractions. Northern Ireland will have details of the latest developments at Odyssey, the £91m Landmark Millennium Project in Belfast. Northern Ireland lunches for trade partners will be on November 13 and 14 at 12.30 for 1pm at The Paragon Hotel, Earl’s Court.

Looking forward: Suzanne Morris, left, and Judy Greig of NITB await the opening of Odyssey

Jersey

Jersey’s 10-year plan for developing its tourism will be among the big news from Jersey Tourism.

It will be fielding a top-level team to talk about it, including chief executive Elizabeth Jeffreys and marketing director David de Carteret.

Jersey Conference Bureau marketing manager Hamish Reid will also be on the stand to help build the island’s conference business.

Jersey is also keen to promote the number of operators which have added the island for 2001. These include Bridge Travel Service and walking specialist HR Countrywide.

Guernsey

Guernsey Tourist Board is releasing details of a short-break campaign launched in association with the Guernsey Hotel and Tourism Association.

It is offering special three-night packages for £74 per person including travel until December 11, and weekly prize draws for clients who make a booking.

The board is also launching a Sporting Guernsey campaign, backed by the A Great Arena for Sport brochure. This aims to promote its sports clubs and associations.