Scandinavia is set to steal the limelight this year with its stand shaped like a huge Viking ship. Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Finland will be sailing under a joint banner at World Travel Market with their innovative open-plan stand.
Visitors who climb aboard will find out more about the new road and rail bridge linking Denmark and Sweden, reducing the journey time between Copenhagen and Malmo to just 20mins when it opens in July 2000.
Scandinavia is also home to three of the nine European Cities of Culture for 2000 – Reykjavik, Helsinki and Bergen – and each will be looking to raise awareness of their year-long programme of events.
Icelandair will be unveiling its new branding on the first day of WTM. The package includes a new logo, livery and Web site as well as service enhancements. Also available will be Icelandair’s Holidays 2000 programme with new features including Icelandic horse riding tours, self-drive options and new hotels in Reykjavik.
Among the new exhibitors representing Finland is the Hotel Igloo Village Kakslauttanen, a privately owned hotel company that can organise log cabin accommodation combined with igloo stays.
Norway will be working in tandem with the Swedish Tourist Board to raise awareness of the Scandinavia ski product.
n Alsace, Champagne, Burgundy and Aquitaine will be giving away 500 bottles of wine each day at WTMto promote the Festival of Wine 2000. Visitors to the stands must fill in a questionnaire to be entered into the draw.
n Scandinavia is supporting WTM’s Just a Drop Appeal with a water-tasting competition. Visitors who can identify correctly which country the water is from can enter their business cards into a grand draw with a weekend for two in one of the Nordic capitals as top prize.