TOURIST boards from the UKand Ireland will be using World Travel Market as the launchpad for several new initiatives.
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board will be introducing its five new regional tourist boards to the trade for the first time.
The English Tourism Council will be trying to raise awareness of its recently introduced accommodation grading scheme and Wales is planning to relaunch its TEAM Wales initiative.
All five of the NITB’s new regional tourist boards, which have taken over responsibility for the promotion of tourism from 26 district councils and 11 tourism organisations, will be at the All-Ireland stand.
The five regions will be officially introduced by deputy chief executive of the NITB Mark Alexander at a drinks reception on the stand between 6pm-7.30pm on Monday November 15.
The stand will be shared for the fourth year running with the Irish Tourist Board. New exhibitors on the Irish stand include Ireland’s Millennium Festivals which was set up to promote parties being held throughout the country to celebrate the year 2000, the New National Museum for Ireland, and representatives from Stakis, Radisson and Four Seasons which have all opened or are planning to open hotels in Dublin this year.
Joining the Wales stand for the first time will be Pembrokeshire Tourism and the Celtic Manor Resort which has been refurbished.
A spokeswoman for the Wales Tourist Board said it was hoping to announce plans to revamp its TEAM Wales initiative which provides marketing, advertising and training support to the tourist board’s key industry partners.
In addition, the tourist board will be promoting its Homecoming 2000 initiative which endeavours to persuade people from all over the world with Welsh connections to return for a holiday. Special Homecoming packs will be available from the Wales stand.
The English Tourism Council will be trying to create greater awareness of the new, single-grading scheme for hotels and guest accommodation which it has introduced jointly with the AA and the RAC in September.
On the Scottish Tourist Board stand there will be six new exhibitors. The newcomers are Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board, Chivas Brothers, Macdonald Hotels, Nairn Hotels, Trading Post Airboats and Western Isles Tourist Board.
The Western Isles Tourist Board will be launching its brochure and travel trade guide at WTM while the Orkney Tourist Board will be launching its year 2000 brochure and an Island of Orkney package produced by Highland Rail Developments and Scotia Travel.
n Mersey Tourism and Liverpool City Council are sponsoring WTM’s Discovery Happy Hour on November 17, starting at 12.15pm at the centre stage. The Mersey Partnership chief executive will give a speech followed by music including Beatles tribute band The Overtures. Mersey Tourism is also participating in the Discovery Product Trail offering agents the chance to win a visit to Liverpool including return rail travel from London, four nights in a four-star hotel, guided tours, meals and transfers for two people.