WTM 2021 is a milestone for the travel industry
The Trove Team attended the World Travel Market at Excel London on November 1-3, 2021. This was the largest travel show of its kind since the start of the pandemic. For the first time since travel’s stand-still in early 2020, travel professionals, tour operators, tourism board representatives and travel technology practitioners came together to rebuild, recover, and charge towards industry growth.
This event was a major relief for the global tourism and events industry. "People are doing business, they are providing opportunities for that consumer to go off and explore those wonderful places that they've seen via TV, or Zoom, or social media over the last 19 months," exhibition director Simon Press told popular news outlet Euronews. "And this is what it's all about, rebuilding that confidence within the industry and then pushing that out to a consumer audience as well."
New investment announcements were made. The Emirate of Raz Al Khaimah, for instance, announced major investments in the tourism industry and attractions. Quoted at the conference on the first day, Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, announced an investment of more than £100 million in investing and enhancing the cultural experience in Raz Al Khaimah.
New partnerships were formed, such as between Greek Tourism and the UNWTO, where Greece committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices and setting the example for other nations ahead of the November 30 UNWTO general assembly. In addition, the Spanish Tourist Office reiterated its commitment to sustainable tourism, including announcing an investment of €4 billion from the European Commission’s NextGenerationEU (NGEU) directed towards sustainable tourism practices.
Major goals were set by tourism practioners and tourism boards. Israel’s UK tourism chief announced aims to unlock new funding for its national tourism industry as the destination also announed re-opening on November 1. As a similar forward-looking statement, Italy has put the focus on golf and sport as a major driver of tourism, announcing the Ryder Cup now to be hosted in 2023 in Rome. The Maldives Tourism Office made its mission to meet with and secure new relationship with as many industry partners as possible, boasting more than 100 industry partners during the Market. Similar, Turkey announced a visitor target of 28 million visitors by the end of 2021. Jordan boasted similar partnerships, with the delegation including more than 16 travel agencies, hotels, and economic zone authorities at the impressive booth.
This is a turning point for an industry which has largely been virtual for the last 18 months. Delegates from more than 100 countries attended. Trove is excited for the new opportunities and prospects during the remainder of 2021 and 2022, as this industry continues to innovate, digitize and make commitments for forward growth.