BULLISH AT WTM

The World Travel Market in London is now underway, with all indications that spending inhibitions based on shaky world economies have been set aside, reports Press Today\’s western editor, Ted Davis.

The WTM status report says that travel industry professionals polled just before the show are feeling good about their prospects for generating strong returns in 2014. The WTM 2013 Industry Report was presented on the first day of the Market, which is being held Nov. 4-7 at the ExCel Centre in the Docklands region of London. It said the 89% of those polled were optimistic about their prospects in the coming year.

“We are seeing a double growth in business,” said Steve Allan (pictured), chairman of the board of directors for the Canadian Tourism Commission, who was at the Canada exhibition stand with 30 Canadian partners/exhibitors. He noted that business was especially strong in terms of more upscale products and that the average rate price of packages to Canada by foreign tour operators was in the range of £3,000. The number of CTC industry partners at WTM is up slightly in 2013 over last year.
Over 5,000 exhibitors are attending WTM this year, representing 184 countries and regions.