World Travel Market London kicks off today in the British capital with the annual event expected to be 20% larger than last year as the industry continues its surging post-pandemic recovery. Travel Industry Today is onsite at the ExCel venue in east London and will offer coverage in the days, weeks, and months to come, reflecting the always overwhelming amount of information disseminated at the world’s largest English language travel and tourism trade fair.
WTM reports that close to 15% of its 4,000 exhibitors will be new at the three-day event this year, similarly reflecting tourism’s recovery. Further, compared to pre-pandemic figures (2019), private sector exhibitor numbers are up 23%, African exhibitor numbers are up 27%, Caribbean exhibitor numbers are up 10% and representation from the Middle East region were set to be up a whopping 60% – a surge that presumably will be threatened by effects of the war in Israel.
The war certainly will present an underlying theme to WTM 2023, not unlike other momentous events that overlapped with the show, such as 9/11, the lead-up to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Donald Trump’s electoral victory on Nov, 2016, and more recently, the pandemic years.
Attended by travel and tourism professionals from around the world, including a typically robust delegation of Canadian buyers, along with some travel advisors and media, the show will also offer more than 60 conference sessions designed to “empower the global travel community, and reminding them they have the ‘Power to Change’ travel.”
With over 9,000 attendees at the conference sessions last year, 2023 will see eight new conference tracks titled Sustainability, Technology, Geo-Economics, Emerging Markets, Consumer Trends, Marketing, Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and Experience, all presented with the aim to help the global travel community succeed and thrive, by informing, entertaining, and influencing their business decisions.
Other prime events will include 17th annual Ministers Summit (taking place today – Monday), plus additional summits on technology, sustainability, diversity/inclusion, and marketing.
Attendees will also be the first to glimpse the annual WTM Global Travel Report, by renowned researchers Oxford Economics, which provides delegates with valuable insights into the trends shaping the future of travel, including the changing needs of travellers, emerging and growing destinations, and uncover behaviours and trends for 2024 and beyond.
Brooke Gilbertson has lofty expectations for the show.
“For those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it,” he says, “WTM London 2023 is a must-attend show with speakers coming from every corner of the world to spread their wisdom on every element of the travel industry.”