Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to open the 30th World Travel Market (WTM) at London’s ExCeL on Monday November 9.
Johnson said: “London has always been one of the world’s major trading posts. For thousands of years, buyers and sellers have met here to strike deals and exchange goods, ideas and information.
“The city also welcomes more international visitors than any other on the planet, so it is entirely appropriate that the world’s travel trade should continue to choose the capital for their annual gathering.”
The event is expected to attract 50,000 overseas and UK visitors.
For nearly 12 months, the Mayor has been backing a major tourism campaign to attract domestic and overseas visitors to London – in a bid to provide a £60 million boost to the capital’s economy by the end of this year.
WTM chairwoman Fiona Jeffery said: “Boris Johnson has become the face of London and it’s particularly appropriate that he will help to celebrate 30 years of WTM, which has not only helped bring industry professionals together to conduct business across the world, but has also shined a spotlight on the latest trends and developments.
“The industry has many challenges ahead and WTM will provide a unique platform to help the industry improve, adapt and change,” she added.
The WTM opening ceremony takes place at 11.30am on Monday November 9 in Platinum Suite 4, at ExCeL, London Docklands.
WTM Facts
WTM has been opened by six royals, four British government ministers, seven industry figures, four explorers, an opera singer, two London Mayors and a Miss World.
In 1985, security was increased as a record number of visitors watched Princess Diana open the event.
WTM has played host to a variety of animals over the past 29 years. Most famously, a West Indian exhibitor attracted a lot of attention by bringing a parrot to its stand.
Over the last 29 years, WTM has held almost 11,000 conference sessions. UK travel agents can collect Accredited Travel Professional points for each WTM Travel Agents Programme session they attend.
A delegate visiting WTM for the four full days can expect to walk more than 100,000 steps.