This year, we have a number of new initiatives at World Travel Market, including our new admissions policy.
It has been designed to underpin the value of WTM as a four-day business-to-business event, the WTM Global Economic Forum, the WTM Business Case for Responsible Tourism Conference, and the WTM Entertainment Zone, which will be at the east end of the central boulevard.
Along with these new initiatives, exhibitors and visitors can look forward to a full range of programmes. This year we are focusing on the impact of mobile technologies, responsible tourism, economic challenges, health and wellness, the growth and needs of the gay market and the airline sector, to name just a few.
The global credit crunch is affecting a number of sectors and the WTM Global Economic Forum on Thursday November 13 will help navigate this storm. Another key initiative is WTM World Responsible Tourism Day.
As we move into our second year of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day, the industry is addressing economic, social and environmental sustainability. Ecotourism is considered the fastest growing market in the industry with an international growth rate of 5%, representing 6% of the world’s gross domestic product.
WTM World Responsible Tourism Day will debate and showcase companies and organisations that have made excellent in-roads in regard to adopting responsible tourism initiatives.
Tourism is undoubtedly changing rapidly as nature, heritage and leisure destinations become key and as conventional tourism is forced to meet stricter environmental needs. This presents a challenge for government and the private sector to develop new economically viable tourism strategies.
The aim of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day is that it will act as a catalyst for change, motivate, inspire and spread best practice throughout the industry.
Despite forecasts of doom, labour disputes and tourism crises, WTM has also seen amazing growth, with the number of participating countries rising from about 40 in 1980 to 200 last year and attendees increasing from 13,000 to more than 47,000 in 2007.
Just a Drop
We want to help make every step you take at WTM count by raising money for water aid charity Just a Drop. To mark the organisation’s 10th anniversary at WTM this year we are encouraging all attendees to purchase a Just a Drop pedometer for £10. The money raised will help support a dedicated project to provide clean water for children from a nominated region.
