40 Years of WTM London by GT Media ME

An ofďŹ cial WTM London publication

years of

WTM London Celebrating four decades of show and industry success

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IN THE NETWORK Almost

IN THE PIPELINE

4,800

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1,100

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40 years of

WTM London

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T he global travel industry is poised for major change over the next 40 years and WTM London will continue to champion and support its developmentâ&#x20AC;? Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, World Travel Market London

40 years of WTM London

An ofďŹ cial WTM London publication

years of

WTM London Celebrating four decades of show and industry success

Contents 12 INTRODUCTIONS 12 Editor's foreword 16 Reed Travel Exhibitions 18 UK Tourism Minister 20 European Travel Commission

Egyptian Tourism Minister

40 YEARS IN TRAVEL 28 40 quotes that changed travel

36 42 44 56 58

40 WTM facts WTM in numbers WTM directors Industry timeline The industry in numbers

40 years of WTM London

60 GLOBAL NEWS 60 Destination hotspots

62 THE UK 64 The UK in numbers 66 British Airways

88 78 THE MIDDLE EAST 80 The Middle East in numbers

82 88 92 94 102 106 110

Saudi Arabia The Red Sea Project The UAE Abu Dhabi Shurooq, Sharjah Ajman Katara Hospitality, Qatar

74 EUROPE 76 Europe in numbers

116

STAR MOMENTS 116 WTM's famous faces

134

118 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM 120 128 132

Harold Goodwin

134

Just a Drop

Travalyst

146

Comment: taking responsibility

142 ASIA 144 Asia in numbers 146 Sri Lanka 154 Taiwan 162 Nepal 168 Anantara

168

154

174

182

178

186

NORTH AMERICA 176 North America in numbers

LATIN AMERICA 180 Latin America in numbers

AFRICA 184 Africa in numbers

AUSTRALASIA 188 Australasia in numbers

190 THE NEXT 40 YEARS 192 Industry leader predictions

40 years of WTM London

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Celebrating four decades of show and industry success

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WTM London AN OFFICIAL WTM LONDON PUBLICATION CONTACTS Publisher: Khaled Algaay E-mail: kalgaay@gtmediame.com

PUBLISHED BY GT Media ME Ltd 20-22 Wenlock Road London, N1 7GU United Kingdom

Editorial Director: Gemma Greenwood E-mail: gemma@gtmediame.com

P: +44 207 6085137 F: +44 870 4285885 www.gtmediame.com

DISCLAIMER 40 Years of WTM London, an official World Travel Market publication, is published by GT Media ME Ltd. The publisher, editor and contributors reserve their rights in regards to copyright of their work. No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. No person, organisation or party should rely or on any way act upon any part of the contents of this publication without first obtaining the advice of a fully qualified person.

40 years of WTM London

Art Director: Steven Castelluccia E-mail: steven@gtmediame.com

This publication and related products are sold and distributed on the terms and condition that: • The publisher, contributors, editors and related parties are not responsible in any way for the actions or results taken any person, organisation or any party on basis of reading information, stories or contributions in this publication, or related products. • The publisher, contributors and related parties are not engaged in providing legal, financial or professional advice or services. The publisher, contributors and

editors disclaim any and all liability and responsibility to any person or party, be they a purchaser, reader, advertiser or consumer of this publication or not in regards to the consequences and outcomes of anything done or omitted being in reliance whether partly or solely on the contents of this publication and related products. • The publisher, editors, contributors and related parties shall have no responsibility for any action or omission by any other contributor, consultant, editor or related party.

40 Years of WTM London is published by GT Media ME Ltd under licence from Reed Exhibitions Limited. The copyright in the design and content of 40 Years of WTM London is owned by GT Media ME Ltd, Reed Exhibitions Limited and its licensors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means – electronic, photocopying or otherwise –without the prior written permission of Reed Exhibitions Limited.

All Exhibitors’ entries have been supplied by the companies listed in 40 Years of WTM London and while great care has been taken to ensure that the details are correct, neither Reed Exhibitions Limited nor the publisher of the 40 Years of WTM London accepts responsibility for any error, omission or claims made in the 40 Years of WTM London or at the exhibition. The World Travel Market London logo, WTM and Hosted Buyer are trademarks of Reed Exhibitions Limited. RELX Group, RE symbol, Reed Exhibitions and Reed Travel Exhibitions are trademarks of RELX Group plc.

FOREWORD

Forty remarkable years Celebrating four decades of WTM and tourism industry success

he evolution of the global travel and tourism industry since 1980, the year World Travel Market (WTM) made its debut at London Olympia, has been nothing short of remarkable. From the meteoric rise in the number of international travellers, life-changing advancements in technology and the liberalisation and modernisation of air travel, to the remarkable development of destinations, some of which have literally risen from sand to become global tourism hubs, the travel and tourism industry's transformation has been astounding. The earliest data on international tourism arrivals dates back to the post-war years with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) estimating that 25 million tourists travelled overseas in 1950. Fast-forward to 2018 and this number had risen to a staggering 1.4 billion. Today, the industry accounts for 10.4% of all global economic activity, generates US$8.8 trillion in annual revenues, and is responsible for 319 million jobs, or 10% of total employment worldwide. Give or take a few minor blips, the travel and tourism sector has grown consistently year on year for the past four decades. The original WTM team, led by exhibition director, Frank Boiteux and Bryan Hope, the man behind the show’s concept, had the foresight to predict this upward trend. They identified a gap in the market for an industry platform that facilitated business, networking and discussion, bringing together key global stakeholders under one roof, and the rest, as they say, is history.

40 years of WTM London

When the show launched in 1980, there were 278 million international tourism arrivals. This grew to 439 million in 1990, 682 million in 2000, 951 million in 2010 and in 2012, the figure crossed the one billion mark for the first time. This growth has gone hand-in-hand with major investment in tourism infrastructure in destinations old and new and the emergence of mega outbound markets, most notably the BRIC countries, led by their increasingly affluent middle classes. At the same time, low-cost airlines have made air travel more affordable, the internet has made it more accessible and travellers have become even hungrier to experience what our wonderful planet has to offer. The industry has encountered significant challenges over the past four decades, from 9/11 and other instances of terrorism to the abrupt and tragic end to supersonic air travel; the Global Financial Crisis; oil

price and currency fluctuations; and the worsening environmental and social impact of climate change. More recently, developments from Brexit to the collapse of Thomas Cook and Amazon deforestation have taken their toll. But the industry has been consistently resilient over the past 40 years. It always weathers the storm and bounces back – and so too does WTM London. The show has supported the sector through good times and bad, facilitated its growth and given its stakeholders a voice when they needed it most. WTM London has also challenged the industry, asking difficult questions for the greater good. Because of this event, the responsible tourism agenda has been driven forward and the industry has listened and taken action. It continues to do so, thanks to WTM’s World Responsible Tourism Day, its Responsible Tourism Awards and the pioneering charity established by former show chairman, Fiona Jeffery – Just a Drop. This publication pays tribute to the world’s leading travel and tourism business event, which in 2019, celebrates its 40th edition. It profiles the key identities behind its success and its supporters, as well as some of the major travel companies and destinations exhibiting at the show who are contributing to the industry's ongoing expansion and development. The growth of the global travel and tourism industry shows no sign of abating, with the UNWTO predicting 1.8 billion international tourism arrivals by 2030, by which time WTM London will have marked more than half a century of success. But this is just the start. In the words of Hans Christian Andersen, ‘to travel is to live’ – a mantra that rings true more in 2019 than ever as our desire to explore the world becomes insatiable. The challenge ahead for all of us is to protect and preserve the planet and give back to the communities in the destinations we visit. Sustainable tourism development is the only true path to industry growth and WTM London will remain the champion of this cause.

Gemma Greenwood Editorial Director

Creating unique experiences @_Shurooq ShurooqSharjah

shurooq.gov.ae

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40 years of

WTM London

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Tourism across both sides of the UK border is worth billions of dollars and annual getaways are vital to the well-being of millions of key workers, so we have to do everything in our power to mitigate the impact of Brexit on European touristsâ&#x20AC;? Robert Andrzejczyk, Vice-President, European Travel Commission (ETC)

40 years of WTM London

WTM London 2019 builds on 40 years of success

s regular attendees know only too well, there’s always a great buzz at World Travel Market London and as we celebrate the event's 40th edition in 2019, there is even more excitement around the exhibition. Forty years ago, the travel industry was in its relative infancy and few of the 180+ destinations – plus many more industry sector representatives – that are exhibiting in 2019 could have predicted the global tourism boom that followed. The travel and tourism industry continues to grow, with more than 1.4 billion trips predicted to take place globally this year and the number forecast to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030. To reflect this growth, WTM London 2019 is extending its reach with exciting launches and a vision to share new ideas, driven by a network of contacts, an engaged community and thought-inspiring content. You will notice that WTM London’s 'Ideas Arrive Here' concept – introduced in 2018 – has been woven into the entire 2019 programme and show. We are expanding our notion of this concept through the key themes of Innovative

40 years of WTM London

This year’s show, part of the debut London Travel Week, looks set to break business deal records, cementing its status as the world’s leading travel industry event

Perspectives, New Possibilities and Inspiring Fresh Thinking. Through Innovative Perspectives we will explore how the industry will look in three to five years, share innovations and discuss current and upcoming challenges. As the name suggests, New Possibilities will showcase new exhibitors and products at WTM London, while Inspiring Fresh Thinking introduces new content to the conference programme, with motivational speakers, entrepreneurs and leaders bringing inspiring stories from ‘hot’ sectors such as responsible and sustainable tourism and wellbeing, sports and music travel. In a WTM London first, September saw the launch of BorderlessLive, a new event where content creators, worldwide brands and destinations came together for a festival-style exhibition and conference. Organised in partnership with influencer-marketing agency Traverse, it was a oneof-a-kind event, with close to 700 delegates

interacting with more than 30 exhibitors and attending more than 50 specialist sessions designed to showcase the future of content creation in the travel industry. The event was a great success and we can’t wait for the 2020 edition of BorderlessLive, which promises to be even bigger and better. To celebrate the importance of the growing global tourism sector, we have introduced London Travel Week, which takes place over seven days and includes WTM London, boosting awareness of how big the travel sector really is. Between November 1 and 7, London Travel Week will bring together a medley of industry events to create the largest festival of its kind in the world – one that will really shape the global travel and tourism industry over the next 12 months. There are countless industry events taking place all over London and the UK, which combine to create a world-class travel hub. We launched our inaugural International Travel & Tourism Awards (ITTAs) in 2018 with great fanfare, celebrating the success of national, regional and city tourist boards, as well as outstanding private sector companies and individuals.

COMMENT

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Each year we strive to be bigger and better and on our 40th anniversary, we predict we will beat the record £3.4 billion in industry deals generated at WTM London 2018”

This year, the ITTAs will again showcase the best-in-class of the global travel and tourism industry at a new London venue, Magazine London, on Tuesday, November 5. The ITTAs is the must-attend social event of London Travel Week Travel Forward, the travel technology event co-located with WTM London, is also back in 2019. The second Travel Forward conference, exhibition and start-up showcase will inspire attendees with next-generation technology. Once again, the Inspiration Zones within each region will continue to connect exhibitors through engaging new ideas and content. Each year we strive to be bigger and bet-

ter and on our 40th anniversary, we predict we willl beat the record £3.4 billion in industry deals generated at WTM London 2018. Over the three days of this year’s show we will welcome more than 50,000 senior travel professionals, the highest calibre of buyers, 5,000 exhibitors and 3,000 media from 180+ countries and regions. On behalf of the WTM London team, I would like to thank you for your continued support and wish you every success at this year’s event.

Simon Press Senior Exhibition Director WTM London

40 years of WTM London 17

COMMENT

Welcoming the world The Minister of Tourism for the United Kingdom, Helen Whately, congratulates WTM on 40 years of bringing the global travel industry to London and outlines her ambitions for the UK’s tourism sector

elcome to World Travel Market London (WTM London) 2019. It is fabulous that you have travelled from across the world to gather here in our capital for this major annual event. For the past 40 years, WTM London has been the flagship industry event where the tourism sector has come together to share knowledge and exchange new ideas. The show regularly attracts 5,000 exhibiting companies, more than 50,000 visitors, and last year generated £3.4 billion in travel and tourism industry deals. The UK tourism industry is worth nearly £70 billion a year to our economy and employs 1.6 million people. In my opinion, the tourism industry is one of the most dynamic sectors of the UK economy and its positive impact is felt across the entire country. From St Ives to Stornoway, businesses and investors across the country rely on tourism and local communities benefit from it both socially and economically. This year’s WTM also follows June’s announcement of the Tourism Sector Deal, which demonstrates a joint commitment from government and industry to ensure that one of the UK’s largest employers continues to thrive. As such, creating more major business events like WTM London forms a key part of the Tourism Sector Deal’s efforts to attract more visitors to the UK. By 2025, experts predict that an additional nine million international visitors will travel

to the UK every year. And who can blame them? I really believe there is something for everyone to enjoy here. You can find UNESCO World Heritage sites, cutting-edge cultural institutions and award-winning gardens. There are thousands of miles of beautiful countryside and coastline to discover, diverse landscapes to explore and many historical and cultural cities to visit. With natural beauty being such a big draw for both domestic and international tourists, we need to identify ways of making travel more sustainable. It’s great to see that World Responsible Tourism Day is included in WTM London's programme again this year and I hope you’ll all take advantage of the opportunities to explore the environmental issues the industry faces. I’m looking forward to working with you all to reduce the environmental impact of tourism in local areas. Improving accessibility across the industry is of particular importance to me. With one in five Brits having an impairment, making travel accessible is a priority. Last year, nearly 500,000 people in Britain cited ‘lack of accessibility provision’ as the reason they didn’t take a trip within the UK. I want the industry to look at practical ways to overcome this so that everyone can enjoy a trip to the UK. I know that many businesses are raising awareness of accessible travel – thank you for leading the way. I acknowledge the challenges the industry has faced recently. However, in its most difficult times, the tourism sector has demonstrated resilience, finding creative ways to overcome obstacles and as a result, it continues to thrive. Finally, I want us to show the world that the UK is a fantastic place to visit and I am confident that, by working with you, we can make this happen. I also want to ensure that the UK continues to build strong relationships with other countries, encouraging both inbound and outbound tourism. I am keen to speak with other tourism ministers to discuss how our countries can work together and learn from each other. I really hope you enjoy your time at WTM London 2019 and I look forward to seeing you there. Helen Whately The Minister of Tourism for the United Kingdom

INTERVIEW

Destination Europe

Poland is growing in popularity as a major European tourism destination – what factors are helping to put the country on the tourism map? All Polish tourism sectors are growing rapidly, faster than average for Europe. It is a very attractive country, although many European tourists still perceive Poland as unexplored. We offer modern tourist infrastructure, interesting tourist attractions and 16 UNESCO sites. In addition, Poland is very diversified, offering something for everyone. We have the Baltic Sea, more than 7,000 lakes, the Tatra Mountains and 23 National Parks. We offer first-class services and tourist attractions at value-for-money prices. That’s why Poland is very competitive. There are many other reasons why tourists choose Poland as a travel destination. Many visit to discover our interesting historical and cultural heritage, some are interested in medical tourism, and others in slow tourism. However, most choose Poland because of its hospitality. According to Booking. com, Poland is one of the top three most hospitable countries in the world. It is one of the safest countries to visit too. What initiatives does the country have planned to build on this momentum? When it comes to communication with tourists, digital channels and influencer

40 years of WTM London

Robert Andrzejczyk, President of the Polish Tourism Organisation and Vice-President of the European Travel Commission (ETC), discusses the recent achievements of both entities and the challenges and opportunities ahead for Europe’s tourism industry

marketing are key. Our promotional themes focus on cultural, active, medical and slow tourism. As for B2B activities, we will continue to work with tour operators and travel agents, retain our presence at more than 50 travel fairs worldwide, and organise conferences with key tour operators and major entities. This month, UK tourism industry event AITO 2019 is being staged in Wroclaw, while the first European Travel Agent Forum is taking place in Poznan, hosting more than 100 top US travel agents specialising in selling Europe. We also work very closely with our Polish strategic partners like airlines (e.g. LOT Polish Airlines), hoteliers (e.g. Polish Hotels Holding), tour operators and tourist attractions. The sustainable development of tourism in Poland is another focus and thanks to the Polish Tourist Brands project, we intend to redirect tourist traffic to less frequented places. We will also continue to fight seasonality by extending the tourist season through special promotions and activities. How is Europe's tourism sector performing? Europe remains the world’s number one tourist destination; virtually all reporting destinations registered significant increases in tourist arrivals in early 2019. Balkan destina-

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Europe remains the world’s number one tourist destination; virtually all reporting destinations registered significant increases in tourist arrivals in early 2019”

tions’ efforts to expand the tourism season, diversify the product offering, and develop niche marketing are bearing fruit: Montenegro (+50%) and Turkey (+12%). Star performers were also Slovenia and Greece (both +8%), Poland (+7.1%). Solid domestic demand still supports the growth of tourism in Europe. Following a solid performance in 2018 (+6%), international tourist arrivals to Europe are projected to grow 3.6% in 2019, a rate more in line with the annual historical average (2008-18). Conservative projections are associated to ongoing downside risks and include: trade war impacts on the global economy, geopolitical tensions, growing concerns around unfolding Chinese economic slowdown, a potential US recession, Brexit, and persistent weakness in the Eurozone (e.g. German slowdown and Italian debt). Among Europe’s key long-haul source markets, the US and China continue to stand out in terms of their contributions to European tourism growth accounting for a share of 11% and 4% respectively. The ETC recently joined the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) – what benefits does this deliver? It will facilitate a dialogue between ETC members and the private sector to strengthen the value of tourism in Europe

and will provide a platform to advocate the interests of ‘Destination Europe’ globally. Both organisations have cooperated previously to raise awareness of the positive economic impact and social benefits of Europe’s tourism sector.

What do you believe have been the ETC’s recent notable achievements? EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY) in 2018 was a highly successful initiative, with the ETC rolling out a 16-month programme of cooperative marketing activities designed

HORIZON 2022 The ETC’S Horizon 2022 strategy, in cooperation with the European Commission, has five strategic objectives: 1.

Changing the marketing approach – the new strategy implies a transition towards a new global thematic promotional approach, creating leverage for partnerships and digital focus. As opposed to a traditional geo-graphic segmentation, a thematic approach means that product and experience will come first, rather than destination;

Changing segmentation – from a geographic-based segmentation, to a cross-border passion based segmentation, bundled in specific themes;

Changing research – the ETC will redefine research and put passions first. Giving visitors a memorable experience gives them something to tell their friends about. Knowledge of a passionate community serves as the basis for identifying challenges and opportunities in product experiences;

Changing budget – benchmarks from ETC’s competitive set teach us that to be taken seriously by global partners, a substantial budget is needed. It is the only way to foster a cumulative effect. A strong value proposition is needed to get more partners involved;

Changing partnerships – the ETC develops a platform that attracts other NTOs, cities, regions and private partners. In a globalised world we need to upscale that economic advantage. We will create platforms members can build on and contribute to in a way that fits their own DNA while becoming open and attractive for new partnerships.

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INTERVIEW

to increase the appetite of Chinese Free Independent Travellers for discovering new European destinations. The promotional campaign reached more than 450 million impressions among potential Chinese travellers to Europe. ETC also hosted fam trips for 200 Chinese tour operators in 22 European countries. The programme ‘Partnerships in European Tourism’ comprised eight conferences and B2B matchmaking events in both Europe and China, specifically tailored to small- and medium-sized tour operators and businesses. During these events, 1,030 European suppliers met with 770 leading Chinese buyers, with more than 21,000 one-to-one meetings taking place. Adopting a new marketing strategy was also an undoubted success. ETC’s ‘Horizon 2022’ implies a transition towards a new global thematic promotional approach, creating leverage for partnerships and digital focus. As opposed to a traditional geographic segmentation, a thematic approach means that product and experience come first, rather than destinations. ‘Destination Europe’ shall therefore promote itself first and foremost as a collection of meaningful experiences that connect with people’s passions, and secondly shall refer to the places where it all happens. What’s the ETC’s responsible tourism agenda and what progress has been made in implementing responsible tourism measures? The stimulation of competitiveness and the promotion of sustainable growth of the European tourism sector is at the core of ETC’s strategy. Sustainable tourism incorporates policies, practices and programmes that consider the expectations of tourists regarding responsible natural resource management, as well as the needs of communities that support or are affected by tourism projects and the environment. Tourism has significant potential as a driver of growth for the world economy, however the travel industry can also negatively impact the environment and local communities. The ETC is currently undergoing a profound re-examination of its agenda in order to respond to these challenges – including overtourism and the contribution of tourism to climate change.

40 years of WTM London

Wroclaw, Poland

Last year we published a report on Tourism and Climate Change Mitigation, and we are now following up with concrete actions. Horizon 2022 already paves the way for responsible marketing. ETC members are also currently developing a common framework of measuring sustainable tourism indicators and we are investigating possibilities of measuring the carbon footprint of tourism in the destination – capitalising on already existing solutions. We also need to reconsider how we measure our success and agree on a new set of KPIs that aim for and reflect a balance between visitor numbers and value created – for the travellers as well as for the destination. How is the uncertainty around Brexit impacting the European tourism sector? Looking at this year's data, we do not observe a decrease in arrivals from Great Britain to other European countries (growth was claimed by more than three quarters of reporting destinations based on latest available data). But due to ongoing Brexit uncertainty and a weak pound versus the euro, there appears to be a clear preference towards destinations perceived as being price attractive. Greece was the strongest growing destination, with British arrivals up 41.8% in the first three months of the year. Bulgaria and Montenegro have also reported strong growth, which may be indicative of UK tourists leaning towards relatively low-cost destinations to extract more value out of a weaker pound. What will be the long-term impact on European tourism if Brexit goes ahead – with or without a deal? It’s difficult to predict the long-term impact of Brexit on European tourism. It depends on what conditions Britain will leave the European Community. However, we can be sure that such a scenario could turn the travel plans of millions of people. Travellers seeking to head in or out of the UK face so many uncertainties that it's almost impossible to plan effectively to avoid them. Downing Street has confirmed that Freedom of Movement rules for EU citizens will change immediately after Brexit. Tourism across both sides of the UK border is worth billions of dollars and annual getaways are vital to the well-being of millions of key workers, so we have to do everything in our power to mitigate the impact of Brexit on European tourists.

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INTERVIEW

A new dawn for Egypt H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Tourism, Egypt, highlights how the country’s tourism reform programme and emotive promotional campaigns are delivering robust arrivals growth and paving the way for sustainable development that will benefit Egyptians and travellers alike

How is Egypt’s tourism industry performing in 2019? Egypt’s tourism industry growth rate has accelerated in recent years. The sector grew 35% in 2017, 30% in 2018 and we anticipate at least 15% growth in 2019, the result of a new tourism policy framework with a clear vision. The strategy’s pillars of reform have required coordination and collaboration among industry stakeholders and following the execution of this policy framework, we have re-established credibility amongst the international travel community, including tour operators, airlines and partners. The Egypt – Tourism Reform Programme (E—TRP) included a marketing and promotion pillar, which has seen us embrace modern advertising tools such as digitalisation and branded content to target different tourist segments and demographics. We have showcased Egypt’s destination offering according to visitor age and interests, tapping into new online channels more aggressively such as adventure tourism sites and advertising what the country has to offer beyond beach and leisure. Cultural tourism has been another area for promotion with a focus on the new flagship Grand Egyptian Museum as Egypt’s most significant tourism-related project over the past 30 years. We have also reviewed our tourism software – our capacity building and people development – and our hardware in terms of hotels, which led to the launch of the New Hospitality Criteria in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). This helps us improve our tourism industry competitiveness, bringing us in line with international standards, and puts Egypt on the sustainable development path, with the

40 years of WTM London

H.E. Dr. Rania AlMashat, Minister of Tourism, Egypt

United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of all our work. What key markets are delivering growth for the country and why? Our approach has been to diversify our source markets. Western Europe remains our top source of tourism arrivals, but we are trying to tap into Eastern Europe and the US more aggressively, as well as China, which has emerged as a leading global tourism exporter. We have already witnessed an influx of tourists from new markets and over the next few years, we anticipate further diversification. Which Egyptian destinations are performing well and why? Tourism has improved to all destinations, with South Sinai taking the lead. This followed our destination-branding campaign, ‘Sea South Sinai’, while Hurghada was ranked among the top 25 destinations of 2018 by TripAdvisor. In addition, more international news outlets are covering stories on lesser-known areas in Sinai such as Dahab, and London’s Financial Times featured Luxor and Aswan, which are both bouncing back strongly. There is also a global interest in Egypt’s adventure tourism hotspots such as the Sinai Trail, which was chosen as one of the Top 100 Global Destinations in 2019 by Time Magazine. Tourists from all over the world are voting with their feet, bridging relationships with the Egyptian people, and that’s the essence of our campaign #PeopleToPeople, launched in August this year. ‘PeopleToPeople’ is a campaign that reawakens the power of human-to-human connection. The campaign video highlights the fact that beyond our known destinations, landmarks, and year-round sunshine, Egypt moves, astonishes and awakens the senses of visitors, not only through its attractions but through its people as well, inviting visitors from across the world to connect with us and experience Egypt’s dynamic and vibrant culture. How much public and private investment is being ploughed into tourism projects in Egypt? According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019, Egypt ranked fourth in terms of travel and tourism performance improvement across 140 countries worldwide. It also ranked fifth in terms

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Tourists from all over the world are voting with their feet, bridging relationships with the Egyptian people and that’s the essence of our campaign #PeopleToPeople”

Sinai is an adventure tourism paradise

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INTERVIEW

Hurghada was ranked among the top 25 destinations of 2018 by TripAdvisor Egypt’s vibrant culture is being heavily promoted to broaden its tourism appeal

of tourism brand strategy, up 55 places from its previous ranking of 60th. Other rankings included 44th for attractiveness of natural resources (up from 87th); 38th for world heritage cultural sites (up from 46th); 53rd for sustainability of travel and tourism (up from 92nd); 55th for airport transport infrastructure (up from 59th); 64th for ground and port infrastructure (up from 82nd); and 31st for prioritisation of travel and tourism (up from 37th place). These across-the-board improvements are the result of a concerted government effort and reflect the importance of the sector to the Egyptian economy. Travel and tourism generates 15% of the country’s GDP and is a priority for job creation and investment. Given the private sector accounts for 98% of industry activity, the Ministry of Tourism ensured these stakeholders played a key role when designing and implementing the Egypt – Tourism Reform Programme (E—TRP).

40 years of WTM London

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In Egypt, one of the world’s oldest civilisations and a country known for the hospitality of its people, tourism represents 15% of GDP and employs more than three million Egyptians”

The Ministry of Tourism has also invested heavily in marketing and promotions. This led to Egypt ranking first in Africa for promoting country branding in 2019, according to national branding consulting firm and official WEF partner, Bloom Consulting. This accolade, achieved by Egypt for the first time since 2013, takes into consideration strategic positioning, digital demand, tourism receipts and social media presence. Perceptions of safety have always been an issue for Egypt's tourism sector given socio-political circumstances – what steps have you taken to overcome this challenge? The government has implemented considerable measures to improve Egypt’s security infrastructure and these efforts have been paying dividends, as reflected in the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report, with Egypt cited as the most improved nation for safety and security in the MENA region.

How important is tourism to Egypt’s economy now, and in the future? Tourism is an important sector globally, contributing 10% to global GDP and creating one in every 10 jobs. In Egypt, one the world’s oldest civilisations and a country known for the hospitality of its people, tourism represents 15% of GDP and employs more than three million Egyptians. The overarching objective of the E—TRP is for at least one Egyptian in every household to work in the tourism sector. There has been political will to push the industry forward and the President received the UNWTO award for his commitment to tourism and his contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. What is your strategy for long-term tourism growth – building on the current momentum? We have a policy framework with clear objectives – and procedures to achieve those objectives – and progress is being monitored. In September 2019, we published the first E—TRP progress report, which enables the world to understand the steps we have taken to reform the sector now in the future. Policy frameworks matter; they are not theoretical, but executable. This has been reflected in tourism revenues, which peaked in the fiscal year 2018-19, increasing 28% to US$12.6 billion. What role does WTM play as a platform for promoting Egypt to the world? World Travel Market is one of the most important exhibitions in which Egypt participates. The event provides us with the ideal platform to showcase E—TRP in different ways. We are using technology such as VR and AR to bring Egypt’s #PeopleToPeople campaign to life at the show, as well as heavily promoting the Grand Egyptian Museum to the WTM audience. With sustainable tourism and protecting the environment central to our tourism development strategy, we will be highlighting our efforts in this field at WTM 2019, including steps taken in Hurghada to ban single-use plastics, for example. WTM is a great place to meet industry leaders, colleagues, ministers from other countries, UK policymakers, international media and to interact with international institutions such as the WTTC and the UNWTO. At WTM we all gather together to connect and share knowledge in the interests of global travel and tourism growth.

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quotes that changed travel

“ I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.” Sir David Attenborough, natural historian and English broadcaster

“I’m not the sort of person who gives up on things. The first time we crossed the Atlantic in the balloon, it crashed, and we went on and did the Pacific. The first time we crossed the Atlantic in a boat, it sank, and we went on and got the record. So, generally speaking, we will pick ourselves up, brush ourselves down, and carry on.” Sir Richard Branson, British business magnate, investor, author and philanthropist

40 years of WTM London

“Tourism is an example of the opportunities of globalisation. Tourism brings people closer together and creates the foundation for growth.” Angela Merkel, German Chancellor

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float; to gain all while you give; to roam the roads of lands remote; to travel is to live.” Hans Christian Andersen, Danish author

“The airplane stays up because it doesn't have the time to fall.” Orville Wright, aviation pioneer

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“Past experience has shown us that a country that is serious about tourism and has built an infrastructure, always bounces back. Look at Egypt. It has been up and down for the last 10 years. Every time it comes back stronger than before.” Taleb Rifai, former Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)

“ Hurrah for the trip, the cheap, cheap trip!”

“Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off! But if you don’t have one, realise it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you.” Amelia Earhart, first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean

Thomas Cook, founder of Thomas Cook travel agency in 1851

“When my parents took me on my first cruise at age 12, I was hooked. I told my dad that I wanted to be the cruise director and he said that I could do anything in the world, including drive the thing!”

“There’s the view of New York from the Triborough Bridge, there’s the Sydney Opera House and there’s Concorde; arguably the three most beautiful manmade sights in the world.” Sir David Frost OBE, English TV host, media personality, journalist, comedian, and writer

Kate McCue, first American woman to captain a cruise ship

40 years of WTM London 29

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quotes that changed travel

“I’ve been there since the beginning; we were given a clean sheet of paper and a $10 million cheque. We built this through blood, sweat and tears.” Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline

“If the Wright brothers were alive today, Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.” Herb Kelleher, former CEO of Southwest Airlines

“ If we went into the funeral business, people would stop dying.” Martin R. Shugrue, former Vice Chairman, Pan Am

“People say the customer is always right, but you know what, they're not. Sometimes they're wrong and they need to be told so.”

“Aviation is for the common man. My goal is to enable everyone to fly. It shouldn’t be only for the rich.”

Michael O'Leary, CEO, Ryanair

Tony Fernandes, CEO, AirAsia

40 years of WTM London

“This delivery really marks the beginning of a new chapter for the aviation industry and we feel honoured to be the ones opening this new chapter. With the A380, but also with the new cabin we are offering, our customers will enjoy a completely new way of flying while benefiting from the quietest cabin in the sky. In every class we'll provide more comfort and more space for relaxation. Our new Singapore Airlines Suites — a class beyond First — will redefine luxury air travel.” Chew Choon Seng, CEO, Singapore Airlines

“About two years ago I became convinced that there was a real public demand for and a real public service to be rendered by the establishment of a chain of operating companies throughout the United States, which would be engaged in the business of renting high grade private automobiles without drivers on a mileage basis.”

“In a year or two the journey you have both made will be an everyday experience for millions of people. But today is unique and will be a treasured memory.” Sir Alastair Morton, Co-Chairman of Eurotunnel, addressing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Mitterand following the Eurostar’s first cross-channel journey

John Hertz, founder of first car rental business, Hertz Drive-Ur-Self

“It must be said, during the entire trip from Paris to Bucharest, the menus vie with each other in variety and sophistication— even if they are prepared in the microscopic galley at one end of the dining car.”

Henri Opper de Blowitz, author and guest on the inaugural Orient Express service from Paris to Constantinople in 1883

“As a result of this decision we have no substantial A380 backlog and hence no basis to sustain production, despite all our sales efforts with other airlines in recent years. This leads to the end of A380 deliveries in 2021. The A380 is not only an outstanding engineering and industrial achievement. Passengers all over the world love to fly on this great aircraft. Hence today’s announcement is painful for us and the A380 communities worldwide.”

Tom Enders, CEO, Airbus, following Emirates’ decision to cut A380 orders

40 years of WTM London 31

quotes that changed travel

“A hyperloop system could help enable Saudi Arabia to become a global transportation powerhouse, nurture the nation’s innovation and entrepreneurial culture and grow an innovative knowledge workforce.” Ray Walder, CEO, Virgin Hyperloop One

“Back in 2013 when we won the bid to host this great event, we set ourselves two clear objectives in line with our leaders’ vision: to stage a World Expo that would amaze the world and build a lasting legacy with a global destination that offers a new alternative for urban living.” Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau

“The project’s designs didn’t exceed 80 floors, but I thought thoroughly and pondered deeply to make the Burj Khalifa the most wonderful structure and tallest building in the region so that it would be a tourist destination par excellence; this is what happened. Now, the downtown [area of Dubai] attracts thousands of tourists from all parts of the globe.” H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Prime Minister and President and Ruler of Dubai

“Dubai’s future is firmly focused on harnessing science, technology and innovation to steer it towards a sustainable future that is ready for tomorrow’s challenges in an increasingly digitised world. Emirates will play a key role in supporting Dubai’s goals by developing transformational solutions to help reshape the future of aviation, ensuring we keep a leading role in the industry.” H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group

“We’re creating a tourism destination that is going to generate in the region of $5.86 billion per year to the wider economy, once we’re up and running. It’s going to create around 35,000 direct jobs and probably another 35,000 induced or indirect jobs. That’s the impact that a project of this nature is going to create.” John Pagano, CEO, The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), Saudi Arabia

40 years of WTM London

“Africa’s unique diversity of wildlife and habitat has the potential to radically transform the continent’s economy, yet at present, few of Africa’s protected areas are meeting their potential as engines for tourism growth and are underfunded by up to 10 times the required level.” 2019 report by conservation organisation Space for Giants Club and the UN Environment Programme

“Looking to the future, I believe that travel and tourism is South Africa’s greatest resource and the country’s strategy for expansion, which prioritises regional integration, environment sustainability and putting the community at the heart of decisions, will make for a successful combination.”

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.” Ernest Hemingway, American journalist

“The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft. Since repetitive un-commanded aircraft nose down conditions are noticed … it is recommended that the aircraft control system shall be reviewed by the manufacturer.” Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopian Transport Minister following the Ethiopia Airlines 737 Max crash in March 2019

““[Nelson] Mandela opened up our beautiful country, once a pariah state, to the rest of the world and his name alone has attracted millions of tourists wanting to walk in his footsteps to South Africa every year.” Thulani Nzima, CEO, South African Tourism, on hearing the news of Nelson Mandela’s death in 2013

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

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quotes that changed travel

“One of the best things we can do is actually go and visit the Amazon. It's an amazing celebration of life and after you leave the jungle, the rest of the world kind of seems sterile. Your tourist dollars there show people directly that this place is worth protecting.”

“The airport planned to be built in Chinchero, Cusco, endangers the conservation of one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the world. The airport will affect the integrity of a complex Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage due to noise, traffic and uncontrolled urbanisation.” Natalia Majluf, a Peruvian art historian at Cambridge University who organised a petition against the development of the new airport near Machu Picchu, Peru

Andres Ruzo, geothermal scientist, NatGeo explorer and conservationist

“São Paulo represents an incredible opportunity for our business, and we’re very excited to be flying to a brand new continent for the first time.” Juha Jarvinen, Executive Vice President, Virgin Atlantic, announcing the new Heathrow-Sao Paulo service

“Latin America has all the necessary elements to become an aviation success story: competitive and efficient airlines, a growing middle class, favourable demographics and a geography that necessitates travel by air. However, with the exception of a few countries, the region’s governments are not treating air carriers as partners who drive valuable social and economic development.” Peter Cerdá, Regional Vice President Americas, International Air Transport Association (IATA)

40 years of WTM London

“Reed Travel Exhibitions is launching World Travel Market Latin America at an exciting time for the Brazilian and wider Latin American travel industry…it gives the Latin American internal and outbound travel industry the perfect shop window to heighten its already growing profile…and will be the region’s only global marketplace to conduct business, negotiate deals and sign the contracts.”

Richard Mortimore, Managing Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, announcing the launch of WTM Latin America in 2011

“ That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”

“I get a lot of customer emails and I think the pain point that still exists is things go wrong when you travel, and bad things happen, whether the smell in the hotel room or whatever. We’ve had this mantra of putting the ‘A’ back in OTA and putting the ‘agent’ back in travel agent. I don’t think it’s necessarily going to be agents on the phone, but what will differentiate us is to truly be able to help people.”

Neil Armstrong, astronaut and first human to walk on the moon

Mark Okerstrom, President and CEO, Expedia Group

“We’ll go to the moons of Jupiter, at least some of the outer ones for sure, and probably Titan on Saturn, and the asteroids. Once we have that forcing function, and an Earthto-Mars economy, we’ll cover the whole Solar System. But the key is that we have to make the Mars thing work. If we’re going to have any chance of sending stuff to other star systems, we need to be laser-focused on becoming a multi-planet civilisation. That’s the next step.” Elon Musk, technology entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX

“The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?” Sir Richard Attenborough, natural historian and English broadcaster

“It’s time to go back

to the moon and this time stay.” Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin

40 years of WTM London 35

The

Their determination and commitment to the WTM cause was challenged again when just days before the inaugural event, stage builders went on strike because US exhibitors employed their own contractors.

WTM has been hosted in three London venues: Olympia (1980-1991), Earl’s Court (1992-2001) and ExCeL (2002-2019).

WTM London top

WTM almost did not take place at all. The critics told launch Exhibition Director Frank Boiteux the show wouldn’t work, which led Bryan Hope – the man behind the WTM concept – to question his own sanity. Bryan and Frank were determined to prove the doubters wrong – and they most certainly did.

The 1980 launch event was opened by both the Duke of Kent and Miss World, Kimberly Santos of Guam. Princess Anne helped WTM celebrate its 10th anniversary in 1989.

In 1985 security was increased with the opening ceremony a standing-room-only affair as a record number of visitors watched Princess Diana open the event.

A regular to WTM during the 1980s was an armadillo, brought by the Texas delegation. The reptile was kept in quarantine in London Zoo prior to its annual appearances at the event.

Forty WTM London facts, anecdotes and famous faces

WTM has been opened by six royals, four British Government Ministers, seven industry figureheads, four explorers, including Pen Hadow (pictured) an opera singer, two London Mayors and a Miss World.

40 years of WTM London

One celebrity animal that nearly attended WTM was Grand National winning horse Red Rum, which was booked by an exhibitor in 1982. However, the Hall Manager, a stickler for regulations, insisted an armed vet be kept on standby to shoot the horse in the case of a fire!

12.

Pop heartthrob and former Spandau Ballet frontman, Tony Hadley, made an appearance at the Onyx Hospitality Group stand at WTM 2010.

WTM has played host to an array of celebrities over the past 34 years including film star Michael Douglas, entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, England football manager SvenGoran Eriksson, five-times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave, and Brazilian superstar striker Ronaldo (pictured) who appeared in 2013.

13.

Environmental Awareness Day, launched in 1994, was renamed World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) in 2004. WRTD is supported by the UNWTO and leading industry associations. It is the largest day of action on responsible tourism in the world.

10.

14.

Entertainment has always been at the forefront of WTM, bringing vibrancy and razzmatazz to the show floor. West End and Broadway composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber tested a scene from one of his musicals at WTM, while River Dance has made several appearances.

11.

The first WTM at Earlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court saw the Boat Showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pool transformed into a mini Venice. Marilyn Monroe, Laurel and Hardy and other Hollywood lookalikes were all spotted taking a leisurely gondola ride adjacent to the show floor (pictured below).

At WTM 2009, Wezley Sebastian and John Phoenix dressed up as The Gumbies from hit movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert and were snapped with Micaela Juarez from Reed Exhibitions.

40 years of WTM London 37

15.

A delegate visiting WTM London for all three days can expect to walk more than 75,000 steps.

16.

In 2013, one delegate walked an astounding 120,000 steps – that’s a whopping 60 miles!

17.

At WTM London 2010, the world’s shortest man, Khagendra Thapa Maga, was the star guest on the Nepal stand (pictured). He stood just 0.67 metres tall.

In 1980… •The first World Travel Market opened its doors. •Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister. •Blondie, Abba and David Bowie were topping the music charts. •More than 21 million viewers in the UK and a massive 83 million in the US tuned in to US TV soap Dallas to find out who shot JR.

40 years of WTM London

•The news was dominated by the presidential election of former actor Ronald Reagan in the US and the assassination of Beatles legend John Lennon in New York City. •The world’s bestselling toy, the Rubik’s Cube, hit the shelves, with more than 400 million cubes sold to date. •The Post-It Note became the must-have office accessory.

•The world discovered the identity of Luke Skywalker’s father with the film release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

18.

WTM London has the largest temporary Media Centre in the UK. Only twice has the UK hosted bigger one-off press offices: 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games and the 2012 London Olympics.

19.

At WTM London 2009, the then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, officially launched the event, but forgot to swing by the Visit London stand at the show. Oops!

40 WTM FACTS

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20.

At WTM shows from 1997 to 2013, more than 180,000 glasses of champagne were toasted in celebration and 9,030 bottles of house wine and 875,000 cups of coffee were consumed.

21.

Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways invited Aussie soap star, singer and TV talent show judge Dannii Minogue to its WTM stand in 2009 and again in 2011.

22.

In 2008, WTM London updated its admission policy to make the Monday of the event an invite-only day for exhibitors’ key contacts and buyers, international media and government tourism ministers.

25. 23.

The Azores took centre stage at WTM London 2012 when TV presenter Ben Fogle manned the destination’s stand.

24.

WTM London has worked with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for the past 13 years to produce the Ministers’ Summit at WTM.

ITV part soap, part reality show, The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE), made its presence felt in 2014 when ‘star’ Joey Essex appeared on the Las Vegas stand and hosted a VIP silent disco.

26.

2013 saw the launch of The Travel Technology Show at WTM – a ‘show within a show’ concept created to give the travel technology industry the dedicated focus and resource it deserved.

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40 WTM FACTS

29.

27.

31.

Famous footwear designer Jimmy Choo was spotted strutting his stuff at the WTM London 2009.

Just a Drop celebrated its 20th anniversary and providing 1.5 million people globally with safe water and sanitation at WTM London 2018, the event where the charity was launched in 1998 by former WTM chair, Fiona Jeffrey OBE.

Majorca has had its fair share of celebrities get behind the destination over the years, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, who promoted the island’s 312 cycle race at the tourist board’s press conference in 2015.

30.

In September 2019, BorderlessLive was launched as part of the growing WTM portfolio, bringing together brands and destinations with wellknown digital influencers.

28.

WTM London contributes more than £160 million annually to London's economy. The figure covers participants’ spend on hotels, restaurants and entertainment during their stay in the UK's capital.

32.

WTM London 2018 generated a record £3.4 billion in travel and tourism industry deals, surpassing the 2017 figure of £3.1 billion.

33 27

40 years of WTM London

40 WTM FACTS

36. 33.

At WTM London 2012, TV personality and travel writer Charley Boorman abseiled from ExCeLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ceiling to the South African stand to promote his new television programme showcasing the destination.

34.

An iconic red London bus will make its mark in the UK & Ireland area at WTM London 2019. The 1960 Routemaster will appear on the exhibition floor courtesy of the Afternoon Tea Bus Tour operated by B Bakery.

35.

Many international cricketing legends have bowled into WTM London, including Freddie Flintoff, who received a traditional Henna tattoo on the Dubai stand in 2011.

Moke International is launching its new hoteland-resort friendly electric vehicle at WTM London 2019. The iconic Mini Moke has been around since the 1960s and appeared regularly as the village taxi in cult sci-fi series The Prisoner.

37.

More than three million Brits booked a holiday after being influenced by a TV show in 2017, WTM London research revealed. The 'Game of Thrones' effect saw travellers flock to series filming locations in Croatia (pictured), Iceland, Morocco, Malta and Spain.

38.

WTM has played host to a variety of animals over the past 34 years. Most famously, a West Indian exhibitor attracted a lot of attention when his parrot slipped its chain and flew off into the roof at Olympia. It later returned safely of its own accord.

39.

More recently, the show has been home to lovable security dogs as part of the canine security and detection team.

40.

World-renowned graffiti artist Banksy erected a replica painting of the separation barrier between Israel and Palestine at WTM London 2018 to promote his Walled Off hotel in Bethlehem.

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WTM London in numbers 42 42

4 0 years 40 yea y ye ea e ars rs of o WTM W TM Lo London ondo do on

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Social media

Attendance 1980

2018

95.8k

Twitter

45.7k

7,753

visitors

32,350

Facebook

visitors

3.7k LinkedIn

350

exhibitors

4,674

10.8k Instagram

exhibitors from 181 countries and regions

TECH TALK

7,000+ travel executives and 250+

innovative solution providers attend the three-day Travel Forward show, which runs alongside WTM London.

3.4k YouTube

Business deals

ÂŁ3.4bn

worth of travel and tourism industry deals generated in 2018

IDEAS ARRIVE HERE World Travel Market London not only generates business, but is the hub of travel ideas. The 'Ideas Arrive Here' concept applies to WTM's portfolio of six leading b2b events globally.

6 ÂŁ7bnn+ leading b2b events generating

worth of industry deals annually

40 years of WTM M London 43

yearss of

W TM London

T he pe oplle that yo u w o r ke d w i t h and thosee that you me t f rom alll corner s o f the globe r eallly made W T M. Itt was evven a plaacee too me e t and sharee a be er witth your spor tin ng her oes, whicch in my case werr e crick ke ting g leegend ds Brian L araa, Sirr Gar f ielld S oberss and Sirr Vivviaan Richardsâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;? G raemee Barnee tt, forr m er Exhii bitioo n D irecc t o r, World Travee l M ark k e t L ondon

WTM DIRECTORS

40 years of

WTM London

WTM DIRECTORS 40 years of WTM London 45

In the driving seat

Tom Nutley (1985-1992)

Meet the Exhibition Directors who have contributed to World Travel Market’s success over the past 40 years

Frank Boiteux

Tom Nutley was appointed WTM Exhibition Manager in 1985 and expanded the show in size and structure to become the major worldwide industry event it is today. He pioneered the Meridian Club – the first dedicated buyers’ club for the exhibition industry – as well as the 1994 launch of Arabian Travel Market, which lead to the inception of the Reed Travel Exhibitions brand and the first of many international events. Tom’s commitment to the travel and tourism industry during his time at Reed was demonstrated by his involvement in travel industry-related organisations worldwide, including his roles as Chairman, PATA UK Chapter and Industry Council Member of PATA Worldwide; Committee Member of The Guild of Travel & Tourism; Chairman of the International Tourism Trade Fairs Association; Trustee & Treasurer of Just a Drop charity; member of the World Travel & Tourism Council and Board Member of The Tourism Society. He is also a member of associations including ITT, ICCA, SITE, MPI and CTO. In 2008, Tom was appointed an Ambassador for Tourism by the Minister of Tourism for Sri Lanka, as well as Employer Champion for the Travel & Tourism Diploma, a major UK national education initiative launched in schools in 2010.

(1980-1982)

WTM was the brainchild of Bryan Hope (Head of Reed Business Press) and Len Lickerish (Chairman of the British Tourism Authority) and they appointed Frank Boiteux as launch Exhibition Manager. The critics said the show would never work and Frank was determined to prove them wrong. In just two years, WTM established itself as a fixture on the travel and tourism industry’s calendar with the 1982 edition of the show attracting 50% more participants than the launch event. Today WTM generates more than £3.4 billion worth of business annually.

40 years of WTM London

Jane Cassell (1983-1984)

Jane Cassell took the helm from Frank in 1983 and WTM continued to go from strength to strength. In 1984 the show covered three Olympia Halls, each with its own entertainment stage, and attracted 1,424 exhibitors and 28,922 trade visitors. During Jane’s two-year tenure, she recognised the potential of Tom Nutley, who was Reed’s Exhibition Hall Manager at the Brighton Metropole at the time, asking him to help out at WTM as a floor manager. He did such a stellar job that when Jane left Reed in 1984, she handed him the reins to WTM.

WTM DIRECTORS

Craig Moyes (2008-2009)

Fiona Jeffery OBE (1993-2013)

Fiona Jeffery was responsible for WTM from 1986 to 2013, as Managing Director and ultimately as Chairman. During her tenure she created and launched a global industry responsible tourism drive, World Responsible Tourism Day, in association with the UNWTO, which is now the largest responsible tourism gathering in the world. In 1998, Fiona also founded and is Chair of international water development charity Just a Drop, which brings sustainable safe water, sanitation and hygiene projects to underprivileged communities. To date the organisation has worked in 32 countries and changed the lives of more than 1.5 million people in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Fiona sits on the UNWTO World Committee for Tourism Ethics, is Chair of WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Programme, Chair of Africa Travel & Tourism Association and sits on the Advisory Board for School of Hospitality and Tourism at Surrey University. She is also a Non-Executive Director and Tourism Advisor for a number of international businesses. She recently launched a Global Sustainable Tourism PR Consultancy with international PR Agency Finn Partners and Brighter PR. In 2012, Fiona was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to travel and tourism, and in 2013 received the TTG Contribution to Industry Award and the World Tourism Award for her philanthropic vision in creating Just a Drop. She was nominated for the Directory of Social Change Influencer Award in 2015.

Craig Moyes has held multiple Exhibition Director roles in the UK, Europe, Asia and South America over the past 20 years. He joined Reed Exhibitions in 2007 and was appointed WTM’s Exhibition Director in 2008, the year it smashed its then participant record with almost 50,000 (49,963) exhibitors, visitors, international media attending the event, up 4% on 2007. The following year, in 2009, when the show celebrated its 30th edition, Craig was responsible for the launch of WTM’s hugely successful Speed Networking Programme. In 2010 Reed promoted Craig to Group Exhibition Director for its global Meetings and Events Portfolio and four years later, to Portfolio Director for Leisure Travel, responsible for WTM, ATM, WTM Latin America and WTM Africa. Following a decade of success with Reed, he left the company in 2017 to take up the role of CEO of the Society of Garden Designers.

Graeme Barnett (2005-2007)

Graeme Barnett first joined Reed Exhibitions in 1998 as Project Manager and worked his way through the ranks over the next 20 years, including a stint with World Travel Market as Exhibition Director. Show milestones during his tenure include staging the first pan-industry conference to discuss bi-lateral tourism relations with China and hosting the first UNWTO Ministers’ Summit on Tourism and Climate Change in 2007. Graeme then moved on to look after Reed’s Meetings and Events Portfolio as Exhibition Director and Senior Exhibition Director and was then appointed to head up Industry Engagement and Business Development for the company’s successful ibtm events. He left in 2018 to join Mash Media as a consultant and was subsequently appointed Chief Operating Officer. He is also Chief Advisor at Graeme Barnett Advisory.

40 years of WTM London 47

In their words

“

Fiona Jeffery

Simon Press (2010-present)

WTM’s current Senior Exhibition Director, Simon Press, joined Reed Travel Exhibitions in 2007 as Exhibition Director on Arabian Travel Market, was appointed WTM’s Head of Sales in 2018 and promoted to the show’s Senior Exhibition Director at the start of 2010. He joined WTM at an exciting time following the £165 million expansion of host venue ExCeL, which increased the floorspace by 50% and paved the way for the show’s growth over the following nine years. In 2013, the Travel Tech Show at WTM London was expanded and Simon has since managed its successful introduction at Arabian Travel Market. He was also instrumental in managing the smooth transition to a three-day WTM London, which continues to deliver brand strategy and enables future growth within the travel and tourism industry. With WTM London 2018 facilitating a record £3.4 billion in travel industry deals and welcoming more than 9,000 buyers from the WTM Buyers’ Club, Simon is confident of building on this success in 2019. Championing an opportunity to bring all events that occur around WTM London under a brand umbrella of London Travel Week, Simon and his team are keen to create a festival atmosphere within which the travel community can connect and shape the future of the global travel and tourism industry. Part of this is the International Travel and Tourism Awards launched in 2018 to celebrate the success of national, regional and city tourist boards and outstanding private sector companies and individuals.

40 years of WTM London

“I joined World Travel Market (WTM) in 1986 as a junior executive and left in 2013 as Chairman, so it has been a very important part of my life. From the outset I loved its potential, its vibrancy and I loved the people and industry behind it. When I took over as Exhibition Director in 1995, I wanted to ensure the event was more than just an exhibition. I wanted to have heart and soul and demonstrate values that went beyond being simply professional and commercially successful. My greatest achievement in this regard was the creation of World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) in 1996 (previously Environmental Awareness Day). At that time, very few people really cared about the industry’s social and environmental impact and many thought I was mad doing something that was clearly seen as non-commercial, so we were ahead of our time. The fact that it continues to be a core pillar of WTM is a positive lasting legacy. We were a player shaping the agenda and it’s great WTM continues to do so. Other personal achievements include launching the first ever Ministerial Summit, bringing the public and private sectors together and the creation of the international water development charity Just a Drop, two initiatives that continue to add value to both WTM and the industry’s wider global impact. WTM was a real passion for me. I gave it my all, and during that time I also became a working mum, which in truth, helped me make better business decisions because perspectives change on what is really important. I look back on my time at WTM with great fondness; at the fun and laughs we had; the traumas such as getting through 9/11; and the move from Olympia to Earl’s Court and then to ExCeL, when I was accused of taking WTM to a Siberian Wasteland! The bottom line? It was a privilege to work with the many committed and wonderful teams and industry players I had the pleasure to deal with from all corners of the globe. I was blessed with doing something I loved. World Travel Market will always have a special place in my heart and I hope that just a tiny bit of me remains at the heart of World Travel Market. Many congratulations on your 40th anniversary.”

WTM DIRECTORS

“

Craig Moyes “When I first saw the post of Exhibition Director advertised, it was a job that I wanted straight away. Why? To be honest, not because it was in travel, although that was very appealing, but because it was the UK’s second biggest B2B trade show and I wanted to have that on my CV. Being lucky enough to get that role, however, literally opened up a whole new world for me. The global travel industry is a superb sector in which to work. It is vibrant and challenging and the business is always evolving as tastes, vacation types and destinations change, adapt, or

new ones emerge. The WTM team were, and I am sure still are, a very dedicated and enthusiastic bunch of people, all intent on delivering the worldclass B2B event that it is. We were constantly looking for ways to improve the event for exhibitors and buyers and I have no doubt that is still the case. I think one of the lessons WTM taught me was that like the travel industry itself, the show could never stand still. It had to evolve to remain relevant if it wanted to maintain its place as the foremost travel trade show in the world.”

“

Graeme Barnett “Leading WTM through its transition from Earl’s Court to ExCeL back in 2001-2002 certainly ranks as one of my proudest career moments. You would have thought we were moving WTM to the moon, not 13 miles across London, but such was the outcry from the global tourism industry and of course, the media doing its best to fan the flames, the pressure to succeed was immense. I can honestly say that two-year period of planning, preparation and delivery was as challenging and exciting as it gets, but both WTM and ExCeL teams worked incredibly well together, led superbly by Fiona Jeffery and Jamie Buchan (the then CEO of ExCeL) to deliver a truly ground-breaking event. The people that you worked with and those that you met from all corners of the globe really made WTM. It was even a place to meet and share a beer with your sporting heroes, which in my case were cricketing legends Brian Lara, Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Vivian Richards. Here I am pictured with them enjoying the famous Caribbean Party night at WTM 2002!”

40 years of WTM London 49

WTM DIRECTORS

A labour of love Tom Nutley reflects on 28 remarkable years with Reed Travel Exhibitions and World Travel Market

sk any exhibition organiser and they will tell you that exhibitions take on a personality of their own as they grow and develop. Successful events reflect the changes that happen in the industries they are serving. Not to do so would usually doom an event to failure. World Travel Market was launched in 1980. It was the conception of Bryan Hope (Head of Reed Business Press) and Len Lickerish (Chairman of the British Tourism Authority). They had visited ITB in Berlin – the world’s leading travel and tourism exhibition – and decided Britain needed a similar event following the same format; five days, Wednesday to Sunday, with the first three days dedicated to trade visitors and the weekend for the public. In 1982, when I was Exhibition Hall Manager at the Brighton Metropole, Reed Exhibitions approached me with the opportunity to join its team as Exhibition Manager of three events – Cycling, the

40 years of WTM London

“

Princess Diana was charming and came across as very caring. Princess Anne was very knowledgeable about all the countries of the stands we visited and had a great dry humour. The kudos of WTM was greatly enhanced by their presence”

Motor Caravan show and Fast Food Fair. In those early days of Reed Exhibitions, Exhibition Managers would help each other out on site. Jane Cassell, who was the WTM exhibition manager at that time, asked me to take on the role of one of the floor managers during the event, which I was happy to do to gain more experience. And so started my relationship with WTM, which was to last for the 28 years I worked for Reed Exhibitions until I retired in 2008.

Tom Nutley at WTM in 2007

THE START OF SOMETHING BIG In 1983 I helped out on-site as one of the floor managers once again and when Jane decided to leave Reed in 1984, I was asked to take over the event. WTM was staged at Olympia in November and at that time, filled about half of the venue. Over the next two years, WTM continued to grow, as did the travel and tourism industry. However, while the trade days were working well and posting an annual increase in trade attendance, the public days were under-performing and many of the exhibitors were leaving their stands empty at the weekends as they were not interest-

ed in dealing with the public. I approached Bryan Hope and said I would like to drop the public days and focus on developing the trade days. He simply said: “do what you think is best”. It was at this point that I fully realised that the development of WTM was fully my responsibility and this decision became the first of three I would make that would change the format of the event to make WTM what it is today. Over the next two years I changed WTM from a five-day trade/public event to a four-day trade event running from Tuesday to Friday. This focus on the trade helped to grow WTM exponentially. What also helped was the fact that during the first 10 years of WTM, the event was opened by three members of the royal family – Princess Alexandra in 1981, Princess Diana in 1985 and Princess Anne on the 10th anniversary of WTM in 1989. After opening the event, each princess spent more than three hours touring the exhibition and visiting many of the stands. Princess Diana was charming and came across as very caring. Princess Anne was very knowledgeable about all the countries of the stands we visited and had a great

40 years of WTM London 51

WTM DIRECTORS

dry humour. The kudos of WTM was greatly enhanced by their presence. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER I wanted to make WTM the best travel event in the world. To do so I knew that I would need to be close to the industry and fully understand how all the different sectors worked. To this end I joined a number of trade associations, served on their committees and for a time, chaired two of them. A better understanding of how the industry worked led to the next major change I would implement. WTM at that time dealt with growth the same way all exhibitions did. Current exhibitors kept their same stand space the following year and new exhibitors were located in newly hired space from the venue. I now knew that most key trade visitors (buyers) only had responsibility for an area or region of the world but the Caribbean islands, for example, were all located in different areas of the venue, which did not make life easy for those trade visitors. I decided to regionalise the event into geographical areas. I did this by locating regions in different sections of the halls with colour-coded carpet and signage. While the technical side of re-drawing the floorplan was a challenge, the major problem we faced was getting exhibitors whose stands had been located in the same hall positions for years to move to new areas. The Caribbean exhibitors were reticent at first, but within two years they were holding joint promotions and cocktail parties etc. In fact, this regionalisation of WTM was so successful that other travel exhibitions around the world soon followed our lead. In between these two major developments, we did as would any responsible organising team; aim to improve the event year on year. After each event we would hold a wash-up meeting and agree on which areas we needed to focus for further improvement for the following year. PACKED TO THE RAFTERS The industry continued to grow, as did WTM. In fact we reached the stage where we were using all the available space at Olympia and the aisles were as few and small as was allowed by fire regulations. Our trade attendance had also grown and we were now attracting more than 14,000 trade visitors daily. But with every positive there is always a negative. The aisles were so packed one

40 years of WTM London

„

In 1994, we opened Arabian Travel Market in Dubai and by the time I retired in 2008 we had a portfolio of 14 travel and tourism industry events worldwide under the brand of Reed Travel Exhibitions”

could hardly move, but more importantly, the stands were so overcrowded that exhibitors were finding it difficult to hold key business meetings and I heard that many where holding them outside the venue. So what to do? The only other venue in London at that time was Earl’s Court, which was no bigger than Olympia. Our trade attendance mainly broke down into two sectors: buyers (tour operators) and information seekers (travel agents). If I could separate these two sectors and give the exhibitors more quality time with the buyers, I thought that would solve the problem and improve the event. I briefed the WTM team and asked them to work out how we could achieve a buyers-only day with an attendance of around 7,000 attendees. I set up a meeting at the office of the company we used for our print and marketing promotions. On the day, the team gave a presentation which, to my horror, highlighted all the reasons why the day would

not work. Keeping as calm as I could, I advised we would meet the following week when they would explain how we would overcome all the issues they had raised, as we were going ahead. THE BIRTH OF MERIDIAN DAY At the reconvened meeting it was agreed that we would brand the day Meridian, with the buyers being Meridian Club Members. We would provide the members with their own lounge with free refreshments where they could go to between meetings to write up their notes or just relax. We also decided that we could not make the Meridian Day on the current first day (Tuesday) as we would risk having visitors turning up who had not being invited, but had always come on a Tuesday. So Monday it would have to be. One of the key questions was how to decide who to invite as Meridian Club Members and how many to achieve the target of 7,000. We decided that we would ask the exhibitors to nominate the buyers they wished to do business with and their invitation letter would state which exhibitor had nominated them. In terms of numbers, using the past information we had on visitor attendance, we calculated that we would need to invite 12,000 buyers, which should give us a pre-registration of 9,000 and an attendance of 7,000 on the day. We would top up the exhibitor nominations to reach the target of 12,000 invites. So the plan was set in motion. LAST-MINUTE JITTERS AND A BIG MOVE Tourist boards were by far our most important exhibitors and took up well over half the exhibition space. All the overseas tourist boards in London belong to ANTOR (Association of National Tourist Office Representatives), which met on a regular basis. Not long after we started promoting the Meridian Day, I was asked to attend an ANTOR meeting. At the meeting they said that if I proceeded with the Meridian Day they would all pull out of WTM. I explained why I believed Meridian Day would improve the event for their private sector by giving them quality time with key buyers and that I was going ahead, but made them a promise that if the day did not work I would drop it the following year. In the end, only one small tourist board pulled out of the event.

5. Princess Anne at WTM in 1989

1. A raft travel of Reed global travel events, including ATM (pictured), have followed in WTM’s footsteps

However, my lowest moment creating this day was when one of my team, who had been with me from the beginning and who I respected greatly, had a private word with me saying ‘Tom, I have always backed you and your decisions, but this time I think you may have got it wrong’. Now I was worried and had a few sleepless nights. On the day, we had an attendance of 6,500 Meridian Club Members and the initiative worked really well. In fact within two years, the tourist boards were asking us to increase the Meridian Days to two. Which we did by making the Monday and Tuesday buyer days. It was around this time that Earl’s Court opened Earl's Court 2. Moving WTM from Olympia to Earl's Court would allow us to grow by 50%, which we

did, as we badly needed the extra space to satisfy the demand from our current exhibitors for extra space and new exhibitors who wanted to participate in the event. So we moved from Olympia in 1992. It caused no problems and we settled into our new home quickly. HANDING OVER THE BATON Given the industry’s and WTM’s pace of growth, I had no doubts that within three to four years we would yet again outgrow the available space, so I met with the Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions with an alternative strategy for expansion. I strongly believed there were business development opportunities elsewhere. The travel and tourism industry was growing worldwide with new destinations emerging and I was convinced we could

2.The move to Earl’s Court

3. It was Tom’s idea to colour-code global regions

4. The early Meridian Club

create new travel exhibitions in these areas. Reed was keen for me to follow this development strategy and we both agreed that in order for me to focus on this I should hand over the day-to-day management of WTM to someone else. Fiona Jeffery was ideally suited to the role having worked with me on WTM for many years as the Marketing Manager. She knew WTM inside out and had the right personal skills. Fiona will tell you in her own words how she continued to grow and develop WTM in the years to follow. Consequently, in 1994, we opened Arabian Travel Market in Dubai and by the time I retired in 2008 we had a portfolio of 14 travel and tourism industry events worldwide under the brand of Reed Travel Exhibitions. But that’s another story.

40 years of WTM London 53

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Four decades of industry-defining moments, from the launch of WTM to AI replacing people

1980

2019

40 years in travel

1985

2017

1996

2008

40 years of WTM London

The first World Travel Market launches at London Olympia and is still going strong in 2019

The Schengen Agreement is signed facilitating free movement of travel in 26 European states

Internet travel takes off with the launch of Expedia.com, shifting power from agents to consumers

1998

Smoking is banned on aircraft to the relief of all non-smokers

World’s first hotel robot fires half its droid workforce at Japanese property – an unexpected AI development

Video of passenger being violently removed from United Airlines flight 3411 goes viral on social media

Airbnb launches, connecting people with space to rent with travellers looking for a place to stay

2007

Steve jobs unveils the Apple iPhone and sparks a smartphone craze – and travel benefits

1999

2005

Europe’s single currency, the euro, is launched in 17 countries

The first A380 takes flight, paving the way for superjumbo travel worldwide

2000

2001

The Air France Concorde crash brings the era of supersonic air travel to an end

The tragic events of 9/11 have a profound impact on the global air and travel industries

9/11

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40 YEARS IN TRAVEL

Tourist arrivals

The 1.4bn +6% global travel industry Air passengers 4.3bn 82.2tn 38mn in numbers +6.1% +6.7% (Source: UNWTO)

on 2017

in 2018

Middle East (+10%) Africa (+7%) Asia Pacific (+6%) Europe (+6%) Americas (+3%)

(Source: UNWTO)

in 2018

revenue passengerkilometres (RPKs)

on 2017

departures

81.9% overall passenger load factor

of the content on Instagram is travel-related

SOC CIA AL MEDIA A WATCH H Cruise

Wellness tourism

(Source: Cruise Lines International Association)

(Source: Global Wellness Institute)

TOTAL OUTPUT:

$134bn in 2017

PASSENGERS:

26.7mn

$639bn 830mn value in 2017

trips annually

TREND WATCH China will overtake France as the world’s largest tourist destination by 2030. Visitor demand from countries surrounding China and rising middle class prosperity in Asia will see France lose its position as the world’s most popular holiday spot. (Source: Euromonitor International)

in 2018

30mn

expected in 2019

LGBT (Source: Out Now’s global LGBT2030 research programme)

A SOBERIN NG STATISTIC 60% % of the 3.6 6 to 6 millio on wildlife tourists a year pay for activities with negative animal welfare and/ or negative conservation impacts, according to research by WildCru.

40 years of WTM London

$218bn

annual spend

Halal (Muslim friendly) (Source: Thomson Reuters and DinarStandard)

$177bn $274bn in 2017

in 2023

DID YOU KNOW

More than half of the world’s 1.4 billion tourists who travelled across international borders in 2018 were transported by air.

AXYXYXYXYXYXYYXYXYXYX AXYXYX XYXYXYXYYXY YXY XYXYX 1 UNITED STATES American Airlines is launching five new routes in Summer 2020 including its first-ever service to Africa. The carrier will fly from Philadelphia to Casablanca; from Dallas to Tel Aviv; and from Chicago to Krakow, Prague and Budapest respectively.

2 CANADA Air Canada will upgrade its daily non-stop flights from Ottawa to London-Heathrow with its state-of-the-art B787 Dreamliner aircraft from March 2020. Travellers will have the choice of business, premium economy and economy classes of travel.

26 MEXICO

3 THE BAHAMAS The Bahamas desperately needs tourists to help aid its recovery in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the destination’s Ministry of Tourism has stated. While most islands are open for business, some will take years to recover and will rely on destination tourism revenue to rebuild them.

Mexico is speeding up development of its Maya Train route linking the Caribbean resort of Cancun and Chichen Itza, an important Mayan archaeological attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site.

24 ARGENTINA Buenos Aires has become the latest city to join the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), a pioneering initiative of the UNWTO aimed at helping destinations manage tourism in a smart and sustainable manner.

SOUTH AFRICA Construction work on the new 200 million rand Durban Cruise Terminal – South Africa’s busiest cruise port is due for completion in 2021, the managing director of MSC Cruises South Africa, Ross Volk, has revealed. 60

40 years of WTM W London

5 SPAIN

Duty-free sales of cigarettes and alcohol will be re-introduced if the UK leaves the European Union with a no-deal Brexit, the country’s Treasury announced in September.

Spain has been declared the world’s most travel-ready nation for the fifth year in a row by the World Economic Forum, based on its natural and cultural attributes. Germany, Japan and the US round out the top four.

25 BRAZIL Brazil has named former Barca star Ronaldinho as one of the country’s new ambassadors for tourism. The footballer is one of 15 identities with “an international profile” selected by Embratur to promote the destination overseas.

4 UK

Global hotspots

The latest news from some of the world’s most exciting destinations

22 MOROCCO Morocco’s tourism economy is witnessing above-average growth, with annual arrivals increasing 6% between 2000 and 2018, compared to 4% globally. In 2018, the destination welcomed 12.3 million tourists, up 8% YoY.

21 KENYA Kenya reported a 37% YoY hike in tourism arrivals to more than two million in 2018 and is now the third largest tourism economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The industry grew 5.6% compared to the regional average of 3.3%.

20 BAHRAIN The world’s largest underwater theme park has opened in Bahrain. Dive Bahrain’s centrepiece is a 70-metre-long decommissioned Boeing 747 – the largest submerged aircraft in the world.

19 SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia has launched a groundbreaking tourist visa scheme, opening the kingdom to visitors from more than 50 countries including many in Europe, North America and Asia for the first time.

GLOBAL HOTSPOTS 6

7 FRANCE

GREECE The Greek National Tourism Organisation’s (GNTO) new president, Angela Gerekou, has revealed plans to support tourism start-ups and foster new ideas aimed at improving the sustainability of Greece's tourism sector.

RUSSIA European travellers will soon be able to visit Saint Petersburg and the surrounding areas with an e-visa, which will be valid for 30 days and allow visitors to stay for eight-days.

Paris received more visitors than London for the first time in a decade in 2018, according to MasterCard’s Global Cities Index. The French city welcomed 19.1 million foreign visitors, compared to London's 19.09 million.

TAIWAN The top five origin countries for tourists visiting Taiwan in the first half of 2019 were Hong Kong, Japan, the US, South Korea and China, according to the latest Expedia data.

10 HONG KONG Hong Kong is suffering the worst tourism downturn since the SARS outbreak in 2003, with arrivals down 40% year-on-year in August amid ongoing political protests and violent clashes with authorities.

11 JAPAN The 2019 Rugby World Cup is expected to generate ¥437.2 billion in economic benefits, with more than 400,000 foreign visitors expected to attend the tournament.

4 7 5

6 11 17

In FY2017–2018, Australia generated AU$57.3 billion in direct tourism GDP representing growth of 7% over the previous year – three times the national GDP growth of 2.3%.

20 0 18 15

12 AUSTRALIA

14 21 13 13 INDONESIA

12 23

18 UAE The UAE is gearing up to host the Middle East first World Expo in Dubai, which is expected to attract 25 million visitors during its six-month run from October 2020 to April 2021.

17 ISRAEL Tourism to Israel is booming, with arrivals reaching a record 4.1 million in 2019, up 13% on 2017 and 38% on 2016, while annual tourism-related revenues currently exceed US$6.3 billion, according to the country’s Ministry of Tourism.

16 NEPAL Nepal is banning single-use plastic in the Himalayan region in a bid to reduce the volume of rubbish left behind by visitors. A recent government-led initiative collected more than 10 tonnes of waste from Mount Everest.

15 INDIA The UNWTO predicts India will account for 50 million outbound tourists by 2020, more than double the 20 million who travelled in 2017.

With parts of Jakarta sinking at a rate of 10cm per year, Indonesia has announced that a new capital city will be built in a tropical jungle to the east of Borneo – an area at reduced risk of natural disasters.

14 MALAYSIA The official Visit Malaysia 2020 song made its debut in September. Entitled ‘Visit Truly Asia – Malaysia’, the song features elements of traditional Malaysian music.

40 years of WTM London 61

yearss of

W TM London

T h e t r av e l & tourissm se c tor underpin ns muc h o f U K sp e nding and supp portt s jobs...tthe W T TC C c ommends th he UK goovernm mentt f or ree cog gnissing g the clearr impor tan nce o f the in ndus trr y as a drivver o f e c onomicc g r ow t hâ&#x20AC;? G loo ria Guu e varr a, Pree sid d en n t an n d C EO,, Wo rll d Traa vel & Tourism m C oun n c il (WTTC), s pee a kii ngg in J ulyy 200 19

AXYXYXYXYXYXYYXYXYXYX

40 years of

WTM London

THE UK 40 years of WTM London 63

AXYXYXYXYXYXYYXYXYXYX

Pulsating cities, stunning countryside, unrivalled heritage, global historic icons and good old fish and chips

The UK

40 years of WTM London

THE UK

37.9mn

international tourist arrivals in 2018

£22.90bn spend

£604

average spend per visit

7th

most popular tourist destination in the world

4th

most popular in Europe

TOURISM IS THE UK’S FASTEST-GROWING SECTOR Accounts for

11.9% of all jobs

Ahead of ﬁnancial services

8.9%

and banking

3.4% Generates

£232bn annually

LONDON

3rd

most visited city globally in 2018

19.1mn visitors

SPOTLIGHT ON…

Brighton

City’s marina named most Instagrammable place in the UK by Google The tech giant analysed 80,000 Instagram posts using popular hashtags, like #dayout and #landscape, to come up with a shortlist of the most photogenic backdrops in the UK. It then asked 2,000 people to vote on their favourite spot, and Brighton’s marina (pictured) took the crown. Brighton’s famous pier also appeared in the list at number ﬁve, while Oxford University took the second spot and was followed by London’s iconic Tower Bridge.

OUTBOUND MARKET BOOM The UK was the fourth largest origin market for international arrivals in 2018 The top three destinations UK citizens visited were: • Palma de Mallorca • Paris • Dublin

Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Mastercard

40 years of WTM London 65

yearss of

W TM London

We bega an in 1919 9, f lying g ju us t one smalll airr crraf t witth one passen nger,, gr ousse, Devonshiir e cr eam m, leeather an nd newspaperr s f r om L ondon to Pariss. Fas t f or ward 100 0 yearss and we now opeerate a f le e t o f alm mos t 3 0 0 airccraf t to moree than 20 des tiination ns ar oun nd the world dâ&#x20AC;? A l exx Cruz, Chh airr m ann & CEO, Brr itiss h Airr waa ys

THE UNITED KINGDOM

40 years of

WTM London

BRITISH AIRWAYS 40 years of WTM London 67

THE UNITED KINGDOM

As BA reflects on its 100-year history, what company values and airline characteristics would you say have remained constant throughout? We have a proud history of taking Britain to the world and the world to Britain. We began in 1919, flying just one small aircraft with one passenger, grouse, Devonshire cream, leather and newspapers from London to Paris. Fast forward 100 years and we now operate a fleet of almost 300 aircraft to more than 200 destinations around the world. At British Airways, we have always been passionate about our customers – they are at the heart of everything that we do, and we are proud to offer them quality, choice and value across all our cabins. We have built up our largest network in more than a decade, launching 13 new routes this year alone and we have the best punctuality of the five major short-haul airlines from London. The world is changing, customers' expectations are changing, and we are changing. We are evolving our product and service and our £6.5 billion investment for our customers is well underway and we are starting to see its positive impact. What makes BA stand out today as an international airline of distinction – and a pioneer in the aviation world? We are a global expert in aviation, flying more than 45 million passengers a year to destinations in 80 countries around the world, giving customers the best global connectivity, either directly or through our network of airline partnerships. We strive to deliver an outstanding service at every touch point during their journey. Our £6.5 billion investment across the business will further enhance the flying experience and we are already seeing results. We are investing in 73 more fuel-efficient, quieter aircraft over the next five years including A350s, 787s, 777-9s and A320neo and A321neos. We have just taken delivery of our second brand new A350 aircraft and earlier this year, launched our new business class seat, the Club Suite. We have also introduced new bedding, dining options and amenity kits for First and World Traveller Plus after forging successful partnerships with leading British brands such as the White Company and Alice Temperley, as well as hospitality and

40 years of WTM London

Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO, British Airways, discusses the airline’s role as a global aviation pioneer – in the past, present and future – as its remarkable centenary year draws to a close

100 years of flying high

A B747 in BOAC livery and the Red Arrows mark BAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100th anniversary

catering expert Do&Co, which is providing the highest quality fresh food to customers in all cabins. Investing in technology to improve the xyxyxyxyyx customer journey has also taken priority. xyxyxyyx We now have more than 70 self-service bag drops and 200-plus self-service checkin kiosks at our hub, Heathrow Terminal 5, as well as facial recognition technology that enables us to board domestic (UK) flights in half the usual time. On board we are investing in fast and reliable Wi-Fi across our fleet and most of our aircraft will be fitted with this by the end of this year. If we look at our rewarding loyalty scheme, we now have more than 10 million members worldwide, allowing customers to collect Avios points when they fly with British Airways and its oneworldÂŽ partner airlines to spend on flights, upgrades, hotels, car hire and other travel rewards. Our programme is regularly voted the best loyalty scheme by Business Traveller.

40 years of WTM London 69

THE UNITED KINGDOM

their next aircraft. Another recent major achievement has been the launch of Club Suite, our new business class seat, and a major part of our Club World investment. The Club Suite offers direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. With 40% more storage, including a vanity unit and mirror, Wi-Fi, an 18.5-inch in-flight entertainment screen, high-definition gateto-gate programming, and PC/USB power, every aspect of our Club Suite has been designed for today's customer. I am passionate about ensuring we consistently deliver for our customers. If we continue to embrace change, while ensuring that we stay true to our values, we can achieve anything.

All of these investments continue to make us the airline of choice for our customers. In aviation, change takes time and there is much more work to do, but I am really pleased to be seeing improving satisfaction levels from our customers. You have implemented many changes during your tenure as CEO – what do you believe have been your key achievements during this period? The investments we are making are transforming our business and will redefine the travel experience we offer in the years to come. We have redesigned our lounges around the world, spending US$100 million on our US lounges alone. We reopened our lounges in Rome and Aberdeen last year and offer more lounges than any other European airline. We’ve also redesigned our Special Services team at JFK and Heathrow, with the aim of extending the excellent elements of our service currently offered to Premier Card holders to Gold Guest List customers, meaning they will now be met and looked after on departure and on arrival. We will continue to expand this service across key airports. Improved catering across all cabins, including Economy, on all of our flights out of Heathrow, is another achievement and follows our partnership with catering firm Do& Co. We’re going to be revealing our new uniform in 2020. We’ve also invested in new aircraft, and by the end of 2019, we will operate four of our A350s and take delivery of 18. We will also soon take delivery of the first of our 787-10s and later, our 777-9 aircraft. As part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions and those emissions that impact air quality and our local communities, we introduced an environmentally friendly electric cab service at Heathrow. The taxis will join our fleet of chauffeur-driven executive vehicles to drive premium customers at risk of missing their connecting flight to meet

“

We have a proud history of taking Britain to the world and the world to Britain”

Classic BOAC, Landor, B.E.A and Negus liveries mark BA’s 100th birthday

What have been the highlights of BA’s 100th anniversary year – for you personally and for the airline? We were extremely honoured that Her Majesty The Queen visited us in May to help us mark our centenary – a landmark in aviation. It was a huge pleasure to show Queen Elizabeth the artefacts and memorabilia we have curated over the years, and to introduce her to our passionate teams from

every department across British Airways who above and beyond for our customers each and every day. For me, this was the absolute highlight of our centenary year celebrations and something we will all remember for many years to come. We were also delighted by the excitement and pride from customers and colleagues on our four heritage liveries, which were repainted to the much-admired designs of their predecessors to mark our centenary. So many British Airways customers and colleagues have fond memories of our previous liveries, so it was incredibly exciting to re-introduce the classic BOAC, Landor, B.E.A and Negus designs to them. Our BA 2119 programme, which explored what aviation might look and feel like over the next 100 years was another a major highlight for me. The programme explored the future of fuels that power aircraft and the future of air travel itself.

of customers travelling on flights from Terminal 5 will be driven from baggage belts to aircraft on driverless baggage trucks, speeding up the delivery of bags. AI will be integral to transforming the future travel experience and we are very excited about it.

What is your strategy for driving further efficiencies and delivering profitability and growth over the next few years, particularly given current political and economic challenges, from oil price fluctuations to Brexit? We have been in the business of bringing people together for 100 years and over those 100 years, there have been many challenges to overcome, so we know that whatever the external challenges, we will continue doing just that – bringing people together. We have a strong financial base and we are investing for the future. You’ve made some great strides in the field of AI – what role does it play and how far will BA take it? We understand that artificial intelligence is a big part of our future. We are making significant advancements using AI to transform the customer journey. We have a fantastic team of data scientists and AI specialists working on a number of initiatives. For example, with IAG’s Hangar 51, we are working with technology start-up Assaia. Its intelligent software captures on video every moment from when an aircraft arrives at the airport to its departure, helping airline workers to see the numerous tasks going on around the aircraft and alerting them to issues that could delay the flight's departure. We are also trialling driverless vehicles at Heathrow so that in the future, the luggage

Top: Her Majesty The Queen visited BA in May to celebrate the airline’s centenary Top right: Do&Co is providing the highest quality fresh food to customers in all cabins Above: New technology helps staff deal with customer issues on the spot

Sustainability and sustainable aviation fuel are also a focal point – what is the plan? We know that air travel continues to grow, but our future has to be sustainable. We are determined to play our part to reduce aviation’s environmental impact and our parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), became the first airline group worldwide to commit to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. This is an industry first. To solve such a multi-faceted issue requires a multi-faceted response and in addition to our own initiatives, there must be a global solution. From 2020, British Airways’ carbon emissions on international flights will be capped under a worldwide carbon pricing scheme called CORSIA, (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation). Along with many other airlines, we will reduce our emissions by investing in a diverse range of projects around the world. Since 2012 when the EU introduced emissions reduction regulations (known as the European Trading System or ETS), British Airways has reduced emissions on European flights by more than eight million tonnes – around 40% on every European flight. From January 2020, we will become the first UK airline to offset carbon emissions on all flights within the UK. This means that all customers flying within the UK next year on flights operated by British Airways will have the carbon emissions from their flights offset by the airline

40 years of WTM London 71

THE UNITED KINGDOM One of BA’s new A350s

“

I am passionate about ensuring we consistently deliver for our customers. If we continue to embrace change, while ensuring that we stay true to our values, we can achieve anything”

and invested in carbon reduction projects around the world. These quality assured projects will include solar energy projects, protection of rainforests and reforestation programmes. We are investing in new aircraft which are up to 25% more fuel efficient than the aircraft they replace. We have a further 73 new fuel-efficient aircraft deliveries between now and 2025. All our 747s will be retired by 2024. We are leading the way in sustainable fuels development too, with IAG investing $400m in this sector over the next 20 years. Our partnership with renewal fuels company, Velocys, to build a plant in Lincolnshire, is now in the planning permission stage. Once built, it will convert household and commercial waste into renewable sustainable jet fuel to power our fleet – a first for the UK and the first time an airline has done this in Europe.

40 years of WTM London

What do you believe are the biggest opportunities for BA going forward? A big opportunity for us is continued investment in our people, because they are at the heart of everything we do and we know they are our biggest asset and ambassadors. We have introduced apprenticeships, graduate schemes, internships and work experience programmes; equipped our crew with new devices to help customers on the spot; and developed a reward and recognition scheme to say thank you to them when they go the extra mile for those travelling with us. We also continue to invest in world-class customer service training, with almost 30,000 colleagues enrolled on skills enhancement programmes in this area over the next 18 months. In addition, we are multi-skilling staff at the airport with one aim – first contact resolution. This means they can solve almost any issue a customer might raise, which is hugely exciting as we can manage day-to-day problems more efficiently. Our colleagues have also been involved in the development and design of our new uniforms, which will be unveiled soon. We wanted all of our colleagues who wear a uniform to come together to help shape and influence the new designs. Tell us more about Project BA 2119 – what will BA look like in 100 years’ time? In the first part of our centenary year, we reflected on and celebrated our past, thanking our customers for making us the airline we are today. But are eyes are also firmly fixed on the future, so we created our BA 2119 programme, which explored what aviation might look and feel like over the next 100 years. At the end of last year we launched the BA 2119: Fuels of the Future – a challenge to British universities to come up with a new and different pathway for a sustainable fuel, capable of being dropped into existing engines and powering a flight for five hours with net zero emissions. A team of students from the University College London were crowned the winners and we’ve been working with them to help them gain funding to bring their project to life. In July, we launched BA 2119: Flight of the Future in partnership with the Royal College of Art. This culminated with a first-of-its-kind exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London, which explored the next 100 years of flying. It allowed visitors to immerse themselves in the evolution of flight.

Escape the everyday

www.poland.travel

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EUROPE 40 years of WTM London 75

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Budapest

Voted European destination for 2019 by EBD The Hungarian capital, which straddles the River Danube, is popular for its stunning architecture, WWII remnants, traditional goulash, thermal waters and vibrant nightlife.

EUROPE

703mn

international tourist arrivals in 2018

US$2.2tn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

8.7%

of whole economy GDP

GERMANY

4th

largest contribution to global travel and tourism GDP in 2018

Worth

US$345bn

1.2% tourism GDP growth TURKEY Led the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism GDP growth with

15% PARIS

2nd

most visited city globally in 2018

19.1mn visitors Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Mastercard, EBD

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Europe Natural beauty, epic history, cultural and culinary diversity

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The Middle East The cradle of civilisations, the home of mighty deserts and where old now meets shiny and new

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64mn

international tourist arrivals in 2018

US$237bn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

8.7%

of whole economy GDP UAE Travel & Tourism contributed

US$44.8bn to the country’s economy in 2018.

11.1% of its total economy Above the Middle East average of

8.7%

One in every nine Dirhams is now generated by travel and tourism One in every 10 jobs in the UAE is supported by the sector DUBAI

4th

most visited city globally in 2018

15.93mn visitors MAKKAH

13th

most visited city globally in 2018

10mn visitors

SPOTLIGHT ON…

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia aims to increase international and domestic visits to 100mn a year by 2030, attracting signiﬁcant foreign and domestic investment and creating a million jobs. By 2030, the aim is for tourism to contribute up to 10% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP, compared to just 3% today.

Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Mastercard

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SAUDI ARABIA 40 years of WTM London 83

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Keys to the kingdom Saudi Arabia is investing billions of dollars in a bid to establish itself as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, explains Majed M. Alghanim, Managing Director of Tourism and Quality of Life, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA)

What role does SAGIA play in supporting the tourism objectives of Vision 2030? The private sector will play a crucial role in developing Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) supports foreign direct investment (FDI) and private sector investment in accessing emerging opportunities across the kingdom. We support businesses throughout the investment journey: from identifying opportunities to conducting feasibility studies and setting up operations. What have been SAGIA’s ‘wins’ in terms of attracting investment in KSA’s tourism sector? In Septemberr, along with the Saudi Com-

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mission for Tourism and National Heritage, we announced SAR100 billion (US$27 billion) in new tourism agreements with major local and international investors. These agreements reflect the enormous potential of Saudi Arabia's growing tourism sector to investors across the kingdom and around the world. We are already working with companies including Triple 5, Majed Al Futtaim, FTG Development, OYO Rooms, Nenking Group, Kerten Hospitality and Tetrapylon to develop new entertainment and hospitality destinations, as well as hotels and resorts, hospitality offerings and other tourism-related attractions.

What are the major opportunities – and rewards – for overseas investors in KSA’s tourism-related developments? We have very ambitious plans for the sector in Saudi Arabia. The new visa regime [providing tourism visas to citizens of more than 49 countries for the first time] is just the beginning of that process. Saudi Arabia expects to increase international and domestic visits to 100 million a year by 2030, attracting significant foreign and domestic investment and creating one million new jobs. By 2030, the aim is for tourism to contribute up to 10% towards Saudi Arabia’s GDP, compared to just 3% today.

“

We have very ambitious plans for the [tourism] sector in Saudi Arabia – the new visa regime is just the beginning of that process”

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Likewise, we are also pleased to sign a $10 billion agreement with Triple 5 (555) – one of the world’s leading shopping and entertainment destination developers, which is behind some of the best-known destinations in North America including the iconic Mall of America and the American Dreams projects. What role does WTM play in promoting SAGIA and its role as an investment vehicle to a global audience and what is your message to the audience at this year’s event? WTM is one of the world’s leading tourism and travel events. It provides us with a fantastic opportunity to meet with potential investors, discuss the opportunities in Saudi Arabia and hear from them what they can offer and what support they need in accessing the market. It also allows us to meet our peers and learn about the latest developments in the sector, helping us to offer visitors a worldclass experience in Saudi Arabia.

„

Elephant rock, Al Ula

At the same time, billions of dollars are being spent to improve infrastructure and develop heritage, cultural and entertainment sites, in addition to the development of new destinations like the Red Sea Project, Amaala and Neom. Saudi’s airport capacity is expected to increase by 150 million passengers per annum and an additional 500,000 hotel keys will be needed across the country over the coming decade. In Saudi Arabia, the market fundamentals are in place for the creation of a vibrant tourism industry, and we believe that the private sector will play a crucial role in unlocking this potential.

WTM is celebrating its 40th anniversary. What changes do you believe will take place in the tourism industry over the next 40 years? We invite investors to become part of the I think in some ways it will be the same as fastest growing tourism sector on earth. it has always been. People will always want to explore new places, encounter new How will these developments boost tourism? cultures and travel to areas of great natural Saudi has a young and well-travelled population with one of the highest GDP per beauty. Those essential human factors won’t change. capita rates in the world. This represents But at the same time, we can expect significant potential to capture more that how people go about fulfilling those domestic spending within Saudi’s growing interests and the destinations they visit will tourism offering. xyxyxyxyyx undoubtedly change. And our strategic location, with 70% of xyxyxyyx I do not have a crystal ball, but I think it the world’s population located within eight is very likely that environmental factors will hours’ flying time of the kingdom, means play an increasingly important role in peowe are well placed to attract a range of ple’s choices – and we have already seen international visitors. high levels of investment in ecotourism. Tourists today are looking to discover What opportunities are there to build on the off-the-beaten-track and authentic destiprogress made in developing – and attracting nations, but they also want their trips to be investment for – new tourism destinations in seamless and technology-enhanced. the kingdom? As we develop our tourism offering, we To highlight just a few examples of deals are focused on these two needs: to remain we have finalised recently: we signed an authentically Saudi and to embrace innoagreement with UAE-based firm Majid vative technologies that streamline tourist Al Futtaim Ventures worth $5.3 billion journeys. This includes attracting global to develop a mixed-use shopping and leaders – like Uber and Airbnb – which are entertainment destination. This project will feature the region’s largest indoor ski slope both already in the kingdom, and creating an environment in which entrepreneurs and snow park and will also create 12,000 can thrive. new jobs here in Saudi Arabia.

Ajman appeals to tourists of all ages and nationalities, from those seeking a luxury beach holiday to those with a love of shopping or culture and heritage”

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Major Saudi developments you need to know about

Saudi authorities are investing billions in developing worldclass tourism destinations and attractions in partnership with the private sector

QIDDIYA Location: Riyadh Scheduled completion: 2022 Saudi Arabia’s first official entertainment destination is set to transform the kingdom’s tourism offering. The development, which is being constructed 40km from downtown Riyadh, is built around six unique clusters: Theme Parks (which will include the region’s first Six Flags park); Wheels and Wings; Scenic and Animal Encounters; Water and Snow; Sports; and Events, Culture and Education. The first phase of the development is scheduled to open in 2022.

NEOM CITY Scheduled completion: 2025 (phase one) Location: Red Sea Coast This incredible futuristic city is set to be built from scratch adjacent to the Jordanian and Egyptian borders, creating the region’s ﬁrst trans-national metropolis. Described by Saudi authorities as a “civilisational leap for humanity”, Neom will be a global hub for advanced research and development and will house cutting-edge industries from bio-tech to robotic manufacturing. It will also become one of the region’s premier business and tourism destinations, housing hundreds of hotels and resorts, convention centres, and dozens of leisure attractions.

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AMAALA Location: Red Sea Coast Scheduled completion: 2028 This massive project, which will cover an area of 3,800 sqkm is being pitched as an “uber-luxury” wellness tourism destination. Located close to Neom on the Red Sea Coast, the project will create an estimated 22,000 jobs. Highlights include a dedicated airport, 2,500 luxury hotel rooms, 200 retail establishments, art galleries, marinas and 700 residential villas.

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SOUQ OKAZ CITY Location: Taif Scheduled completion: 2021 This mega heritage tourism project located in Taif is being developed at a cost of more than $2 billion and will eventually cover an area of 10 million sqm. The precinct will house a number of attractions, ranging from interactive learning museums, hotels and restaurants to an exhibition and convention centre and an open-air theatre. Other features will include a shopping mall, open souks, health tourism facilities and spa and treatment centres.

RED SEA PROJECT Location: Umluj-Al Wajh Scheduled completion: 2022 (First Phase) This enormous tourism project currently underway in Saudi Arabia is reshaping the kingdom’s stunning Red Sea coastline, opening it up to Western tourists for the ﬁrst time. Located between the cities of Umluj and Al Wajh on a natural archipelago, the project has been likened to the Maldives and will include 50 islands covering a total area of 34,000 sqkm. Highlights of the development will include a new airport, hotels, island resorts and luxury residences, multiple marinas, restaurants and a variety of tourist attractions. This 'giga project' will prove crucial to Saudi Arabia’s plan for attracting 31.5 million visitors annually by 2027. See pages 88-90 for more information.

THE AVENUES Location: Riyadh Scheduled completion: 2023 This mixed-use development will be home to one of the world’s largest shopping malls as well as five multi-purpose towers comprising hotels, exhibition, conference halls, residential apartments and office space. Hilton has confirmed it will operate four of the hotels - a 350-room Waldorf Astoria, a 400-room Conrad, a 500-room Hilton Garden Inn and a 150-room Canopy by Hilton.

JEDDAH WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT Location: Jeddah Scheduled completion: 2027 The redevelopment of Jeddah’s waterfront corniche is a long-term project that covers an area of ﬁve million sqm and will include a range of ﬁve-star hotels, retail and F&B outlets, museums and a marina. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2019.

AL ULA Location: North-west Saudi Arabia Scheduled completion: TBC In early 2019, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) announced its vision to responsibly develop Al-Ula as a world heritage destination centered around conservation and collaboration with the local community. The projects announced include the Sharaan Nature Reserve, Sharaan Resort and the establishment of The Global Fund for the Arabian Leopard. Al-Ula hosts a number of archaeological treasures and ancient cities, with evidence of major civilisations, including most notably, the Dadan/Lihyan and the Nabataean kingdoms.

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Setting new standards in sustainable development Saudi Arabia’s high-profile Red Sea Project aims to show the world what is possible when environment conservation meets luxury responsible tourism, explains John Pagano, CEO, The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC)

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rom the beginning, The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has set about doing things differently. Our ambition is to create a truly one-of-a-kind luxury tourism destination that sets new standards in sustainable development. However, doing things differently is not an easy undertaking. To achieve our goal, we need innovative thinking and solutions, utilising the latest technology and partnerships with world-renowned experts. The Red Sea Project is Saudi Arabia’s flagship international tourism initiative, strategically positioned on the Red Sea Coast. The destination covers 28,000 square kilometres and boasts dramatic mountains and canyons, sweeping desert dunes and rugged volcanic landscapes. It also covers an archipelago of more than 90 islands, nestled within the world’s fourth largest barrier reef system. It is a destination of extraordinary natural beauty and diversity and one which we have a responsibility to protect and enhance for future generations to enjoy. We take that responsibility extremely seriously, which is why, underpinning everything we have done, and will continue to do, is an uncompromising and unwavering approach to sustainability.

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A central pillar to Saudi Vision 2030 is the firm ambition for the Red Sea Project to support future development opportunities in a responsible way. We will meet our economic and social objectives, whilst also conserving the area’s environment. It is this approach that has been at the heart of every decision we have made from the start. ENVIRONMENTAL WELLBEING A PRIORITY Before a single plan had been developed, we collaborated with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on the largest marine spatial planning simulation ever undertaken. Using the latest technologies, the exercise involved mapping the destination’s marine biodiversity with the aim of balancing development with conservation and demonstrating that the two can not only coexist but can also be mutually beneficial. The findings have been used to ensure the wellbeing and enhancement of the environment during planning and development. Key infrastructure will be located in areas where we can minimise its environmental impact and wildlife will be protected, including critical nesting sites for turtles and sea birds. For example, we shelved our development plans for an entire island – Al Waqadi – when we learned that is an important nesting site for the endangered hawksbill sea turtle. The island is now one of nine in the archipelago that we have designated areas of special conservation value and which will be accessible only to very select groups of researchers and wardens.

Across the entire lagoon area we will actively protect 28 hectares of environment for every hectare we develop. Efforts to minimise the potential impact caused by construction have been further enhanced through collaboration with construction partners who specialise in modular and pre-fabricated building technologies. This reduces the level of construction activity and the number of people on site at any given time.

Above: The Red Sea's pristine mangrove coastline

Below: The Red Sea Project covers an archipelago of more than 90 islands

“

It is a destination of extraordinary natural beauty and diversity and one which we have a responsibility to protect and enhance for future generations to enjoy”

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THE MIDDLE EAST Left: Preserving marine biodiversity is a priority

Below: Hawksbill sea turtles will be protected

“

We believe we are pioneering a new relationship between luxury tourism and the natural environment” A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT That ethos of collaboration and embracing new technologies doesn’t stop there. Our collaboration with KAUST extends beyond marine spatial planning and encompasses a turtle-tagging initiative aimed at tracking and protecting the local turtle population. We are also exploring innovative coral gardening methods that we hope will increase the number of corals in the lagoon and also help to preserve reefs in other parts of the world that are under pressure from climate change. However, what happens if the technology is not available to match the scale of our ambitions? TRSDC is addressing this through its ‘Brains for Brine’ competition. In a bid to identify new technologies to further enhance our ability to protect the environment from harm, this year we launched a competition challenging global academics and subject matter experts to find new ways of managing brine, the by-product of water desalination. There is no commercially available technology to accomplish this. The competition received more than 100 entries from around the world.

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A LUXURY TOURISM PIONEER We believe we are pioneering a new relationship between luxury tourism and the natural environment. But this is not just limited to planning and development. Our ambitious plans include the operations at the destination and have led to alignment with global best practice, in the shape of all the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is why we have committed to 100% renewable energy, 24 hours a day, using a mix of solar and wind generation coupled with world-leading storage technologies. It is why we have committed to zero waste to landfill and are pursuing a total ban on single-use plastics across the destination. It is why we pledge to be 100% carbon neutral in our operations. And it’s why we are capping visitor numbers to minimise the impact of over-tourism on the environment. COMMUNITY CONSCIOUS Our commitment to the environment is matched by our commitment to the communities in which and with which we work. While developing the destination is our job, our business is growth – for the Saudi economy and for the Saudi people. By completion in 2030, we anticipate that the Red Sea Project will support 35,000 direct jobs and another 35,000 indirect and induced jobs. To fill these new roles, we recently signed an agreement with the University of Prince Mugrin and the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, one of the world’s premier institutions for hospitality education, to offer 120 scholarships for Saudi students to study hospitality management. We are also working with the Ministry of Education to help applicants for the nation’s international scholarship programme identify the academic disciplines and schools that will best equip them for careers in tourism. We aspire to construct a new way of doing things – showing the world what is possible when environment conservation meets luxury responsible tourism. This is not a simple task, however. We have been entrusted with one of Saudi Arabia’s most beautiful and important natural treasures and we intend to protect it now and for the future.

Malta.

More than we could ever tell.

If you are yet to discover the English-speaking Maltese Islands, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to book a trip and visit the small archipelago situated in the heart of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Just a short three-hour flight away, the Maltese Islands are perfect for a family holiday or city break. The colours of Malta, Gozo and Comino are breath-taking; honey-hued architecture compliments the deepest of Mediterranean blues. Stroll through the narrow meandering streets of the towns and villages while basking in over 300 days of sunshine a year.

Maltauk.com

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Tourism is hugely imp o r t an t t o A bu Dhabi, witth the se c tor p l ay i n g a n in t e g r al r o l e in the Ec onomicc V isioon 20 3 0 plan, which willl se e the emiraate r educ e itt s r e lian c e o n o il i n f u t u r e ye a r s â&#x20AC;? S aee e d R a s hedd A l Saee ed d , D e stin n a tion M arr k ett inn g Dirr e ctt orr a t D C T Abu u D haa bi

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THE UAE 40 years of WTM London 93

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Destination Abu Dhabi Saeed Rashed Al Saeed, Destination Marketing Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, discusses the emirateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diversity, world-class tourism infrastructure and new exciting projects that will further boost its visitor appeal

40 years of WTM London

What makes Abu Dhabi unique as a tourism destination – and different to other emirates? The emirate of Abu Dhabi covers about 80% of the UAE, from the depths of the desert, to the mountains near the Oman border and more than 200 islands along our coast. This range of distance and landscape is something often forgotten, but means many experiences can be sought by visitors, whether that is discovering the ancient city of Al Ain, learning about conservation on Sir Bani Yas Island or walking in the footsteps of Wilfred Thesiger in the Empty Quarter. In addition, the city of Abu Dhabi offers a breadth of experiences for all kinds of visitors. Families can enjoy the theme parks on Yas Island, couples can relax on the beautiful beaches and in luxurious world-class hotels and culture vultures can visit Louvre Abu Dhabi, Al Hosn, the Cultural Foundation or one of the many other cultural and historical sites. Abu Dhabi really is a destination that offers something for everyone. How have major sporting events such as the F1, as well as cultural icons including Louvre and entertainment islands like Yas put the emirate on the global tourism map? There is no doubt that hosting the Formula One for the first time at the Yas Marina Circuit back in 2009 helped raise awareness of Abu Dhabi within the wider public consciousness. The Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one of our greatest events and the city really does come alive during the race weekend. Our

after-race concerts have become a huge hit with racing fans and this December we will be celebrating with a headline set by The Killers. Likewise, the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi in late 2017 certainly brought attention to the destination and showed the world that we see ourselves as a cultural hub for the Middle East. We have grand ambitions for Abu Dhabi and securing these world-class events and attractions is a continuous process we are undertaking to enhance our position on the global stage. What future infrastructure projects are planned that will bolster Abu Dhabi’s offering? We are grateful that each year, there is an exciting opening on the horizon, and 2020 is no exception. In the short term we are welcoming Abu Dhabi’s first W Hotel, which will be located on Yas Island, straddling the Formula One track, plus a Hilton hotel will also open on the island, perfectly suited to the family market. Abu Dhabi’s first aquarium, the Al Qana National Aquarium, will open next year and will be home to more than 33,000 marine creatures that will be responsibly and ethically sourced from around the world. CLYMB on Yas Island will be an indoor attraction like no other, featuring the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall and widest skydive simulator. The development of Saadiyat Cultural District, which is already home to Louvre Abu Dhabi, is ongoing and in the coming years we will open the Zayed National

Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, further cementing our position as the leading cultural emirate. How important is tourism to Abu Dhabi’s economy and its long-term growth plan and what are your targets for this sector? Tourism is hugely important to Abu Dhabi, with the sector playing an integral role in the Economic Vision 2030 plan, which will see the emirate reduce its reliance on oil in future years. Investment in hotels, attractions and infrastructure development all aims to enhance Abu Dhabi’s tourism appeal. In 2018, Abu Dhabi welcomed more than 10 million international visitors, with significant growth over the last three years, powered by the addition of world-class events and significant development of our cultural assets. The UK is a key source market and delivered 168,735 hotel guests from January to August 2019 – 0.44% up on 2018 figures, which was a particularly strong year. What role does WTM play in promoting Abu Dhabi as a premier tourism destination? This will be our ninth time attending WTM and each year we are reminded of the exhibition’s importance, not only as a space to meet with key industry partners and to position our developments, but as a stage to develop future relations that ultimately lead to business. It is a vital event in our calendar and one we are pleased to share with so many of our Abu Dhabi stakeholders who join us on stand year after year.

Abu Dhabi’s city skyline

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The real Abu Dhabi

The Corniche spans 8km

Discover the highlights of one of modern Arabia’s most diverse and captivating destinations

The city’s famous Corniche

bu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), conjures images of blue skies, sunshine, powder-white beaches and glittering skyscrapers. But there’s so much more to this enticing emirate than meets the eye, from cultural icons and heritage landmarks such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Hosn and the new Qasr Al Watan presidential palace attraction, to the newly opened Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, the stunning beaches on Saadiyat Island, the vast Al Dhafra desert region and Al Ain, a garden city oasis. Here are our top picks.

The beating heart of the city, Abu Dhabi’s Corniche is an 8kmlong promenade on the dazzling Arabian Gulf that is home to lifeguarded beaches, restaurants, cafes, children’s play areas and cycle and pedestrian pathways. TOP TIP Located at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi on the Corniche is the Nation Riviera Beach Club, which offers amazing views of the bay. Visitors can enjoy its private sandy beach, swimming pool, bar, outdoor Jacuzzi and the Pirate Ship indoor-outdoor kids play area.

Idyllic beaches Abu Dhabi, home to some of the region’s top beaches, offers sun, sea and sand all year round. Don't miss YAS BEACH Facilities on Yas Beach are second to none and include a shaded kids’ splash pool, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding, jet skis, volleyball, an authentic Italian pizza restaurant and a stylish beach lounge complete with DJ booth and infinity pool. SAADIYAT BEACH This 9km ribbon of pristine white sand has a magnificent public beach, as well as private sections that can be accessed from all of the island's hotels. The super stylish Saadiyat Beach Club features its own outdoor pool, workout room, private cabanas and more.

Zaya Nurai Island

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ZAYA NURAI ISLAND The ultimate escape, this private-island resort is located 15 minutes from Saadiyat Island and is accessible by private speedboat. More akin to the Maldives than the Arabian Peninsula, the boutique private island’s 32 villas offer direct beach access, plunge pools and personal butlers.

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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Culture and heritage Abu Dhabi is awash with landmark buildings that pay tribute to the emirate’s rich culture and history. Don't miss SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE Abu Dhabi’s stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ranks third in TripAdvisor’s list of the world’s top 25 landmarks, ahead of the Taj Mahal in India and Peru’s Machu Picchu. Capable of accommodating more than 40,000 worshippers, it features 82 domes, more than 1,000 marble columns and the world’s largest handmade carpet, which weighs 35 tonnes and took 1,200 craftswomen two years to make. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is open to all faiths, is free to enter and guided tours are offered daily.

Louvre Abu Dhabi. Photo Courtesy Mohamed Somji

LOUVRE ABU DHABI The Louvre Abu Dhabi collection comprises more than 600 pieces of art, displayed across 23 state-of-the-art galleries. Drawn from civilisations around the world, the works tell the story of shared human experience from ancient times to the present day. The permanent collection is complemented by around 300 masterpieces on loan from major French institutions, including works by Monet, Matisse and Da Vinci. QASR AL HOSN – THE WHITE FORT Abu Dhabi city’s oldest stone building, Qasr Al Hosn – also known as The White Fort – reopened in late 2018, following extensive restoration work. Built in 1761 to defend the only fresh-water well on Abu Dhabi Island, the fort has become a symbol of Emirati heritage. Following years of careful redevelopment, the fort showcases historical artefacts, photographs and memorabilia throughout the museum and visitor centre. The House Of Artisans is a focal point for the celebration, promotion and preservation of Emirati heritage, offering visitors the chance to see local crafts made by hand, including ﬁshing nets and weavings that were created by Bedouin women.

Louvre Abu Dhabi

Qasr Al Hosn

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Yas Island Yas Island is dedicated to leisure, entertainment, sport, shopping, family fun and more. Don't miss WARNER BROS. WORLD™ ABU DHABI Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi brings some of the world’s most iconic characters and stories under one roof. Visitors can experience six immersive lands including DC’s Metropolis and Gotham City, as well as Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza. The park features 29 state-of-theart rides, interactive family-friendly attractions, live entertainment and plenty of themed restaurants and shopping outlets.

Cool off with friends and family at Yas Waterworld

40 years of WTM London

FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI The world’s ﬁrst Ferrari-branded theme park promises family fun galore. The star attraction, Formula Rossa, hits a top speed of 240kph in just 4.9 seconds, making it the world’s fastest rollercoaster. Not to be outdone, the Flying Aces rollercoaster has the tallest inverted loop in the world – at a stomach-churning 52m. And the thrills keep coming – Turbo Track, hits new highs by launching its 'victims' vertically through the park’s famous red roof to Yas Island's highest point. Younger kids can practice their racing skills at the Junior GP or make a pit stop at the Junior Training Academy, complete with climbing walls, slides, trapezes, gymnastic rings and suspension bridges.

YAS LINKS The ﬁrst true Links coastal golf facility in the Middle East, Yas Links boasts a magniﬁcent 18-hole course. With an astonishing 112 bunkers and a breathtaking backdrop of the Arabian Sea, Yas Links Abu Dhabi is a perfect stop for golf – and Gulf – enthusiasts. YAS WATERWORLD Take a trip to Yas Waterworld, home to more rides, slides and attractions than any other waterpark in the Middle East. Younger kids will enjoy the largest children’s play area in Arabia, while teens (and the young at heart) can dive into all sorts of wet and wild thrills – surf the world’s largest sheet wave, Bubble’s Barrel; drop through a giant funnel in a six-person raft on Dawwama; or soak up Arabia’s longest suspended rollercoaster, the Bandit Bomber.

YAS MARINA CIRCUIT Every year in November/December, Yas Marina Circuit is famously home to the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the spectacular conclusion to the F1 season. But there’s plenty going on throughout the rest of the year too. Petrolheads can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the state-of-the-art circuit, or drive the track in an Aston Martin, Jaguar, or Mercedes-AMG. While on Sundays and Tuesdays, visitors can jog, cycle or walk the track for free.

Visitors can cycle around the Yas Marina Circuit

AXYXYXYXYXYXYYXYXYXYX Abu Dhabi’s garden city, Al Ain

Al Ain For an authentic taste of Abu Dhabi’s heritage, Al Ain, about a 90-minute drive from the capital, is a must visit. Known as the Garden City, this inland oasis on the border with Oman is known for its palm groves and natural springs, as well as Bronze Age remnants – on towering Jabal Hafeet, a mountain to the south, and Al Hili Archaeological Park, to the north. There are plenty of family attractions too, from the city’s famous zoo to its water adventure park. Don't miss AL AIN ZOO: The region’s largest zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, including indigenous Arabian Oryx, as well as big-horned Barbary sheep, rhinos, hippos, tigers and lions. Visitor highlights include feeding giraffes, a walk-through lemur enclosure and safari tours in 26-seater trucks or private SUVs through a 217-hectare landscape. WADI ADVENTURE: Thrillseekers love Wadi Adventure, the Middle East’s ﬁrst and only man-made white-water rafting, kayaking, surﬁng and wakeboarding facility. The park is located at the base of Jebel Hafeet and features three white water channels, an aerial adventure course, a two-storey airpark, a 200-metre zipline, vertical climbing wall and a 14-metre high giant swing.

Al Ain Zoo

The Empty Quarter

AL JAHILI FORT: Built in 1891 to defend the city’s palm groves, this picture-postcard fort is now home to an exhibition about British adventurer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, who crossed the deserts of the Empty Quarter twice in the 1940s and 1950s, disguised as a Bedouin. AL AIN OASIS: The ﬁrst UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UAE open to the public provides insight into how the region’s inhabitants began taming the desert 4,000 years ago, while a clever new app allows visitors to navigate the shady walkways. The luxurious Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

You don’t have to travel far from the city before the desert takes hold. Much of the Western Al Dhafra Region comprises the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) – the largest expanse of sand in the world, which featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the desert planet Jakku. Day trips are popular, with visitors able to experience the majesty of the desert alongside a range of exhilarating activities including dune bashing in 4x4s, camel trekking, sand surfing and dinner under the stars. However, for a more immersive Arabian experience, a stay at one of Abu Dhabi’s desert hotels is a must. Options include Tilal Liwa Hotel, perched on the edge of the dunes; the Arabian Nights Village with woven Bedouin tents and traditional mud and palm-frond houses; and the luxurious Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, a ﬁve-star retreat built in the style of an old Arabian fortress and boasting desert views, a sumptuous spa, world-class cuisine and more.

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What's new in Abu Dhabi?

Qasr Al Watan

• INTRODUCING THE UAE’S NEWEST CULTURAL LANDMARK: QASR AL WATAN On March 11, 2019, a section of Abu Dhabi’s stunning Presidential Palace, the formal offices of the President, Vice President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, opened to the public for the first time. Qasr Al Watan, or ‘Palace of the Nation’, provides visitors with a deeper understanding of the UAE's governing traditions and values and provides access to halls typically reserved for official state guests, such as the Spirit of Collaboration, a chamber where Federal Supreme Council and UAE Cabinet meetings, as well as official summits, are held. Visitors can also explore a collection of diplomatic gifts received from visiting Heads of State and foreign dignitaries; take a glimpse at rare artefacts, books, manuscripts and antiquities from the Arab world in the House of Knowledge; and view historical maps that date back to the Arab Golden Age. An engaging multimedia showcase sheds light on the traditional role of a Majlis (meaning council or assembly) and every evening, a spectacular 15-minute ‘Palace in Motion’ light and sound show takes place on the exterior of the palace, telling the story of Qasr Al Watan and the UAE’s past, present and future.

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• AL QANA NATIONAL AQUARIUM The Middle East’s largest aquarium will open in Abu Dhabi in early 2020. The Al Qana National Aquarium will be home to more than 33,000 marine creatures that have been responsibly and ethically sourced from around the world. It will feature 10 aquatic zones that highlight the importance of conservation, as well as entertainment and dining spaces. The aquarium will also house an entire department dedicated to education, with the capacity to welcome up to 50,000 school children annually. • TWO NEW MEGA MALLS UNVEILED One of Abu Dhabi’s most popular malls, Galleria Al Maryah Island, has been expanded to include 300 additional brands, 250,000 square feet of entertainment and 70 new dining options. The regional mall features more than 400 speciality outlets, including ﬂagship brands such as H&M, Zara, Sephora and many more. Hot on its heels, Reem Mall, a 2.8-million-square-foot retail, leisure, dining and entertainment centre, is scheduled to open in 2020 and will be home to 450 stores, 85 restaurants and the world’s largest indoor snow-play park – Snow Abu Dhabi – which will offer activities as sledging, zorbing and luging.

• YAS ISLAND TAKES VISITORS TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH CLYMB PROJECT Miral, the management company behind Abu Dhabi’s leading leisure and entertainment destination, Yas Island, has announced its latest project – CLYMB – which will bring the world’s widest flight chamber and tallest indoor climbing wall to Abu Dhabi in 2020. Visitors to the facility will be able to mimic the experience of skydiving within a space 9.75 metres (32 feet) wide – the largest area of any flight chamber worldwide. CLYMB will also feature four climbing walls including the world's tallest at 43 metres. The climbing walls will pose a challenge to beginner, intermediate and expert climbers, offering them the chance to scale four walls of varying difficulty. CLYMB will also feature a selection of retail, food and beverage outlets, and a space to host parties and events. The facility will be linked to the nearby Yas Mall.

A world of opportunities

Book your stand today at arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com

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Destination Partner

OfďŹ cial Partners

The ﬁrst-ever World Travel Market London takes place at Olympia London, attracting 350 exhibitors and 7,753 trade visitors. The inaugural event is opened by the Duke of Kent and Miss World, Kimberly Santos of Guam.

In just two years, WTM establishes itself as a ﬁxture on the travel and tourism industry’s calendar with WTM 1982 attracting 50% more participants than the launch event.

1981 1980

WTM 1984 covers three Olympia Halls, each with its own entertainment stage. The show attracts 1,425 exhibitors and 28,922 trade visitors.

40 Y

1983 1982

Princess Alexandra opens WTM to a near riot among Sun newspaper readers when a consumer promotion goes wrong.

WTM’s Global Media Network is formed. Today the event has more than 50 ofﬁcial media partners around the world.

The Indian Tourist Ofﬁce hires an elephant from a local circus to parade up and down the WTM forecourt.

1985

1984

Paul Ryan, Executive Director, Europe, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, is the first to construct a bi-level stand, complete with a first floor.

1987

1986

The opening ceremony is standing-room only, drawing its biggest crowd to date to watch Princess Diana open the event.

1989

1988

A ‘naked’ Lady Godiva riding a white horse on behalf of Coventry Tourism outside of Earl's Court grabs the attention of delegates and passers-by.

Princess Anne steps in to help WTM celebrate its 10th anniversary by opening the 1989 event.

WTM becomes so popular that a decision is made to consider an alternative venue.

The show moves to London’s Earl's Court and the Meridian Club launches with almost 7,000 senior travel buyers.

The successful WTM format is rolled out in the Middle East with the launch of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) at Dubai World Trade Centre with 52 nations, 300 exhibitors and 7,000 trade visitors.

US exhibitors are the focus of attention as Bill Clinton is elected for a second term as President during World Travel Market.

The International Golf Market joins the World Travel Market portfolio and is the only annual B2B event dedicated to the global golf tourism market. International water-aid charity Just a Drop is founded by former WTM Chairman Fiona Jeffery on behalf of the travel industry.

YEARS 1991

1990

1993

1992

The travel industry suffers as the Gulf War comes to an end in February, leading to the collapse of ILG and its UK-based subsidiaries, including Air Europe and Air Europe Express.

1995

1994

Croatia exhibits at WTM for the ﬁrst time as an independent country following the end of the Croatian War of Independence.

1997

1996

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated immediately prior to WTM. Security measures are stepped up at the exhibition.

1999

1998

Meridian Day – which gives buyers exclusive access to the ﬁrst day of WTM – is extended to Monday and Tuesday, placing an even greater emphasis on concluding business deals at the event.

Just a Drop helps the victims of a catastrophic earthquake in Turkey with clean water and water puriﬁcation packs.

WTM celebrates its 21st birthday with Tribute 21, recognising 21 of the travel industry’s top international business executives.

WTM London moves from Earl's Court to ExCeL London. Visitors are welcomed by the then Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and the opening is performed by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan.

WTM celebrates its 25th anniversary. Greek National Tourist Organisation Director Panos Argyros and his colleague present then WTM Exhibition Director Fiona Jeffery with an anniversary cake.

WTM joins forces with the UNWTO to launch World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) – an initiative that harnesses the inﬂuence of WTM to encourage the industry to drive the responsible tourism agenda forward.

WTM smashes its then participant record with almost 50,000 (49,963) exhibitors, visitors, international media attending the event – an increase of 4% on 2007.

OF WT 2001

2000

2003

2002

The WTM programme is completely rewritten following the events of 9/11. A two-minute silence is held to mark the terrorist attacks and the event explores the impact it will have on the industry.

2005

2004

Film superstar Michael Douglas causes a stir when he makes an appearance at WTM to represent Mallorca where he and his wife Catherine Zeta Jones own a holiday home.

2007

2006

The stage musical of J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings opens WTM, while Ultimo bra founder Michelle Mone, adventurer Ben Fogle and TV Presenter Jeff Brazier also attend.

2009

2008

WTM hosts the ﬁrst UNWTO Ministers’ Summit on Tourism and Climate Change and stages the ﬁrst WTM World Responsible Tourism Day.

World Travel Market celebrates its 30th event and launches its hugely successful Speed Networking Programme.

The first WTM Speed Networking session is introduced, matching buyers and exhibitors for quick business meetings on the first day of the event. Each meeting lasts five minutes.

WTM Latin America is launched at the Transamerica Expo Centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

WTM Africa is established as part of Africa Travel Week. The three-day event is held at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre (CTICC) as the only inbound and outbound B2B travel show on the African Continent.

TM 2011

2010

2013

2012

Reed Travel Exhibitions announces the extension of the WTM brand into Latin America.

WTM London is revamped as a three-day event with extended opening hours following exhibitor and visitor feedback and an unprecedented period of growth.

2015 2014

The WTM Meridian Club changes its name to WTM Buyers’ Club. Today the club provides an onsite VIP experience for the show’s valued buyers.

The WTM portfolio expands again with the launch of Travel Forward – a leading travel technology show co-located with WTM London at ExCeL. WTM Exhibition Director Simon Press and Travel Forward Exhibition Manager Richard Gayle open the show.

2017 2016

The number of attendees at WTM’s conference and events sessions breaks through the 18,000 barrier for the ﬁrst time, up 6.2% on 2014 to 18,097 delegates.

2019 2018

The World Travel Market London 2017 Industry Report ﬁnds 53% of trade respondents believe Brexit has had a negative impact on the UK’s reputation as a holiday destination.

As WTM London marks its 40th edition, organisers look to build on the event’s overwhelming success in 2018 when a record 32,462 visitors were recorded, up 4% on 2017, and £3.4 billion in business deals were signed.

AXYXYXYXYXYXYYXYXYXYX THE MIDDLE EAST

Carving a niche

Ahmed Al Qaseer, COO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), discusses Sharjah’s plans to establish itself as a destination for authentic tourism experiences

Mleiha is boosting Sharjah’s appeal as an eco-tourism destination

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What role does Shurooq play in the advancement of Sharjah’s tourism industry? Shurooq is leading the continued transformation and economic diversification of Sharjah. We are committed to enhancing Sharjah’s appeal as a cultural and investment capital by developing breathtaking destinations and promoting its most recognisable landmarks. As far as the tourism industry is concerned, Sharjah is well established as a leading regional destination for eco- and authentic tourism experiences. Over the past decade, Shurooq has been a leading force in shaping this new identity for Sharjah and promoting it to global travel buyers and investors.

Tourism is a key driver of Sharjah’s economic diversification plan. Each year, the emirate attracts an increasing number of visitors seeking an authentic Arabian experience. Shurooq has responded to this growing demand with its diverse portfolio of offerings – from five-star boutique hotels run by the world’s leading luxury hotel operators and customised to offer a glimpse into traditional Emirati living, to historic desert lodges, world-class leisure options, more. Our holistic approach to development allows us to fully capitalise on the potential of each project we develop and create desirable destinations for visitors from around the world, which are not only the best of their kind, but are also eco-friendly. Shurooq has also been successful in forging partnerships with leading developers and hotel operators in the UAE and beyond. Sharjah’s tourism and hospitality industries have made tremendous progress in recent years. The total number of hotel guests is expected to reach 3.16 million this year, up from 2.07 million in 2017. Increasingly, four- and five-star hotels are generating the bulk of revenues, indicating that more travellers are seeking luxury travel experiences. Also, hotel revenues in the emirate are expected to total

US$226 million this year, which is a clear indication that Shurooq’s efforts to advance Sharjah’s tourism industry are on the right track. International tourism growth was led by the Middle East (+8%) and Asia and the Pacific (+6%) in the first half of 2019, and Sharjah was one of the leading destinations in the MENA region to tap into this. What have been Shurooq's key achievements since its inception in 2007? Since 2007, Shurooq has been at the forefront of Sharjah’s transformation into a leading tourism and investment destination. We work with a variety of partners to help realise Sharjah’s full potential and plan projects that leverage the emirate’s geographic location and natural beauty. We have been working to diversify our portfolio of leisure, tourism, and mixed-use development projects, entering into partnerships with leading international partners to bring them to fruition. To date, Shurooq’s portfolio comprises $2.07 billion of completed and ongoing projects and initiatives, covering more than 12 million sqm of developed spaces across the emirate, including leisure and eco-tourism projects, as well as real estate and retail projects. Our hospitality projects include the Al Bait Hotel, which

is an Emirati conservation project in the heart of Sharjah that brings the history of the UAE to life. The Sharjah Collection, which we have been promoting for three consecutive years at WTM, is the culmination of Shurooq’s efforts to expand Sharjah’s ecotourism appeal. The Collection is a group of distinctive luxury lodges and eco-retreats, namely, the Al Faya Lodge in Mleiha, the Al Badayer Oasis in the Al Badayer desert and the Kingfisher Lodge located within the Kalba eco-tourism precinct. During our 10-year journey, Shurooq has been facilitating the sociocultural, environmental and economic development of Sharjah with one overarching goal: sustainability. Realising these objectives is an ongoing process, and we continue to pursue a multifaceted development policy. They include three properties by Eagle Hills – the waterfront developments of Maryam Island and Palace Al Khan

“

Sharjah is well established as a leading regional destination for eco- and authentic tourism experiences”

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Hotel, both in downtown Sharjah; and the Kalba Waterfront set among the mangroves in Kalba. Then we have the Sharjah Sustainable City project in partnership with Diamond Developers; and the Khorfakkan Beach Revitalisation Project, which is almost complete. All these projects fall under our aim to support the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) in positioning the emirate among the top tourism destinations in the Middle East. Shurooq’s partnerships and joint ventures are worth an estimated $1 billion and cover a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, tourism, retail, real estate, healthcare and more. How have Shurooq projects helped to elevate Sharjah’s status as a tourism destination of distinction? Sharjah is home to a range of attractions, from stunning beaches to cultural destinations, including museums. Heritage and culture form the basis of its appeal – its unique offering is bound to change the otherwise more glitzy and glamorous global perception of the UAE. Key heritage attractions include the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-Tourism Project, developed by Shurooq and launched in January 2016. The Heart of Sharjah project, the region’s largest historical restoration project already developed in many phases since 2010, will also boost the emirate’s appeal to heritage tourists. One of the pillars of the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 to attract 10 million visitors is promoting cultural and heritage tourism. Shurooq’s Kalba eco-tourism project, for instance, is situated on the UAE’s west coast and is a haven of peace, tranquillity and stunning natural beauty. It aims to create a sustainable platform for tourism development. From the Heart of Sharjah, to the emirate’s deserts, mountains, beaches and mangroves; each offers an exceptional and memorable experience. Meanwhile, Shurooq’s Al Noor Island development is popularly known as the ‘island of imagination’. Located in Khalid Lagoon, it is home to an architecturally significant Butterfly House, serene Literature Pavilion and contemporary sculptures by some of the world’s most famous artists.

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A 3.5 km-long boardwalk snakes through landscaped gardens, while light installations bring the island to life at night. Sharjah’s popularity as a family-friendly destination has also skyrocketed since it was awarded UNICEF’s Child-Friendly and Baby-Friendly accreditations. How important is tourism to Sharjah’s economic growth and prosperity? It is critical for us to continue growing the tourism sector, which is why Shurooq invested $1.4 billion in tourism projects between August 2015 and 2018. The number of visitors to the UAE continues to grow, and Sharjah’s investments in tourism infrastructure and air connectivity are intended to capitalise on this trend. Shurooq has a comprehensive plan to harness Sharjah’s unique offerings in a way that guarantees sustainable growth. As an independent government entity, we facilitate partnerships bringing together investors, corporations and entrepreneurs. We are currently implementing 26 projects across hospitality, tourism, retail, commercial, real estate and mixed-use categories in Sharjah. Each one has attracted substantial investments resulting from our partnerships with local and international stakeholders. All these factors combine to boost tourism’s contribution to Sharjah’s economy. Based on local, regional and international tourism industry projections, this importance will only continue to grow. What is your strategy for further amplifying Sharjah’s tourism offering? What future infrastructure projects are planned that will help put Sharjah on the world tourism map? As mentioned, tourism is key to Sharjah’s future economic growth, which is why we are committed to expanding the emirate’s appeal to international visitors. Another important tourism project underway is the Khorfakkan Beach Project on Sharjah’s east coast. The project involves the revitalisation of a 3km-long stretch of beach with world-class public amenities like a jogging track, leisure and sports activities for all ages, a beachfront high fashion district, a vibrant mix of local and international dining options, and more. With Khorfakkan Beach and 14 other world-class leisure, hospitality and cultural tourism projects in our destinations portfolio, and rising visitor arrivals, we are steadily making progress towards reaching the main goals

“

The number of visitors to the UAE continues to grow, and Sharjah’s investments in tourism infrastructure and air connectivity are intended to capitalise on this trend”

Above: Al Noor Island

Below: Al Faya Lodge, a luxury eco-retreat in Mleiha

of Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021. Sharjah’s leaders are driving these developments. In 2019, HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, approved a government budget of US$7 billion – up 10% on 2018 – with a significant percentage of this figure dedicated to funding new infrastructure developments. Subsequently,

we continue to see a tremendous boost in the overall development of infrastructure and public services in the emirate. What role does WTM play in promoting Sharjah and Shurooq? For 13 years, WTM has provided Shurooq with a platform to educate the international community about Sharjah’s unique tourism offerings; showcase the emirate’s year-onyear transformation as a leading eco-tourism and luxury hospitality destination; and present global investors with the opportunity to discuss ways of getting involved in the growth of the emirate’s tourism and hospitality sectors. It’s a particularly exciting time for Shurooq as we enter new partnerships and complete developmental phases across our destinations portfolio. WTM has played a significant role in helping Shurooq continue drawing major players and reputable global brands to partner in our wide range of offerings and services across our unique destinations, and we are certain this year will be no different.

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Sincerely Emirati With its diverse landscapes, familyfriendly luxury resorts and warm hospitality, Ajman is a playground for travellers seeking an authentic Arabian experience in a worldclass destination with a true sense of location

Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General, Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD)

jman is one of the most diverse of the seven United Arab Emirates, awash with natural attractions, places of cultural and historical interest and idyllic beaches, complemented by a world-class tourism infrastructure, from luxury hotels operated by global brands to modern and efficient transport services. For these and many more reasons, the emirate has forged a reputation as a safe, peaceful and family-friendly destination, as well as a hub for romance, sport, relaxation and adventure, offering “something for everyone”, as Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General, Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD), explains. “Our destination has unique landscapes and environmental features and a variety of hotels and hotel apartments, tourism attractions, events and activities,” he notes. “Ajman appeals to tourists of all ages and

106 40 years of WTM London

nationalities, from those seeking a luxury beach holiday or adventure break to those with a love of shopping or culture and heritage.” For travellers and industry partners not familiar with Ajman’s offering and how it differs to that of neighbouring emirates, Al Geziry says it is best described as a “nature-driven destination”. Its stunning natural features include its unspoiled coastline and pristine beaches and the lush mangrove forests and lagoons of the Al Zorah Nature Reserve, which has been recognised as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. With seven kilometres of waterfront, two kilometres of beach and a tidal creek, the nature reserve is ideal for waterborne activities. The best way to explore the mangroves is by kayak, with the calm waters and network of channels making it suitable even for first-time paddlers. Golfers, meanwhile, can tee-off at the 18-hole Championship golf course at the nearby Al Zorah Golf Club. Crafted by Nicklaus Design and managed by the renowned Troon Golf, the facility has put Ajman on the world golfing map. “Ajman is also known for its local hospitality, offering a warm welcome to both domestic and international visitors,” Al Geziry adds. “You will find a village feel, a local atmosphere, and there is a great chance to meet and interact with Emiratis, which you might not get elsewhere in the UAE - you are immersed in the Emirati world.”

One of Ajman’s idyllic beaches

Ajman is also one of the most competitively priced destinations in the UAE, which appeals to travellers seeking value, particularly in the luxury hotel and resort sector. A STRATEGY FOR TOURISM SUCCESS With such a rich tourism offering in place and many new developments and activities planned, Ajman is well on track to reaching its target of 800,000 visitors by 2021. The ATDD has a multi-faceted strategy in place to market

and promote the destination, targeting key local and international source markets, which include the UAE, UK, Germany and the Russian Federation. “These markets have great airline connections with both Dubai and Sharjah International Airports and already have a strong affinity with the UAE,” explains Al Geziry. “However, while we take advantage of our proximity to our neighbouring emirates, we are not seeking to compete with them, rather offer something different.” Given the UK is one of the UAE’s largest sources of international tourism business, the ATDD opened its first overseas

“

Ajman appeals to tourists of all ages and nationalities, from those seeking a luxury beach holiday to those with a love of shopping or culture and heritage” 40 years of WTM London 107

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Below: Ajman’s Souk Saleh

office in the market in 2018, appointing Ian Scott Marketing LTD to introduce the UK travel trade and media to Ajman’s unique environmental features, luxury resorts and heritage offerings. “We are educating the travel trade by participating in travel trade exhibitions, roadshows, agent training and incentives and joint marketing agreements with key tour operator partners, as well as hosting agents in destination so they can experience Ajman first-hand,” says Al Geziry. “We are also taking part in regional and international consumer travel and tourism exhibitions and work with a dedicated and experienced PR Agency to educate the media, which in turn, is creating destination awareness with consumers.” All of these efforts have delivered signifi-

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Right: The Ajman Museum

“

You will find a village feel, a local atmosphere, and there is a great chance to meet and interact with Emiratis, which you might not get elsewhere in the UAE”

cant growth in visitor numbers from the UK, he reveals. The next step, he continues, is to expand the ATDD’s presence globally, highlighting to target markets Ajman’s attributes and experiences, from traditional dhow trips to water sports and opportunities to embrace the emirate’s rich and diverse wildlife. Major industry events such as WTM London also play a pivotal role in raising Ajman’s profile, providing the ATDD with an ideal platform to meet current and future partners who can help the emirate reach its visitor targets. “The tourism sector makes a substantial contribution to Ajman’s economy, and our goal is to increase this and continue supporting the emirate’s growth and prosperity,” notes Al Geziry.

10 AJMAN FAST FACTS

Ajman is the smallest of the seven United Arab Emirates.

Left: An artist’s impression of the Heritage District

Its human history can be traced to around 3,000 BC, as documented at Ajman Museum – one of the emirate’s most-visited attractions.

Below: Nature and adventure are key to Ajman’s appeal

Ajman’s natural, beautiful and safe beaches are ideal for water sports such as windsurfing, jet-skiing, and kayaking.

The rocky terrain of the Masfout enclave in the Hajjar Mountains is perfect for walking, mountain biking, picnics and wadi exploration. A visit to Masfout Castle is also a must.

Al Zorah Nature Reserve is a vibrant eco-system comprising mangroves, turquoise lagoons and sandy beaches, that is home to nearly 60 species of birds. It has been officially declared a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention.

Golfers can enjoy world-class golfing at Al Zorah Golf Club, part of the Al Zorah community, which is surrounded by marinas, beachfront hotels, residential villas and restaurants.

To experience a traditional market, head to Souq Saleh opposite Ajman Museum – the place to purchase Arabic dresses and regarded as one of the best souqs in the region for traditional tailoring and embroidery.

Ajman is known for fishing, pearling and trading using traditional wooden dhows. Tourists can visit Ajman's Fish Market and experience authentic and lively daily auctions in the afternoon.

Ajman offers affordable highquality luxury hotels and is close to five international airports with Dubai International just a 30-minute drive away.

10.

Ajman Stud, owned by the Crown Prince of Ajman, HH Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, is home to international prize-winning Arabian 'beauty horses', some worth more than AED1million.

The 2021 strategy is being bolstered by the development of new infrastructure and projects that will cement Ajman’s status as a tourism destination of distinction. They range from The Heritage District, a multipurpose complex adjacent to the popular Ajman Museum featuring entertainment, retail and F&B outlets, to Marsa Ajman, a new waterfront destination with a vast selection of restaurants and retail outlets, a unique waterside promenade and an arena that can accommodate 300 people for activities and entertainment. Further enhancements to Al Zorah are also underway and include a Golf Club House, Wellness Centre and the new LUX Resort. Ajman is a fledgling destination evolving at a rapid rate, but it is committed to preserving its heritage and local essence.

Offering diversity, value, quality and the opportunity to explore Emirati culture, the emirate ticks all the right boxes for visitors seeking a modern Arabian travel experience, from beach holidays to culture or adventure breaks.

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40 years of

WTM London

QATAR 40 years of WTM London 111

Celebrated hospitality icon, Raffles Singapore

The luxury of building an everlasting legacy Katara Hospitality remains steadfast in its commitment to owning, developing and operating celebrated global hospitality icons old and new

112 40 years of WTM London

atara Hospitality is a global hotel owner, developer and operator based in Qatar with 45 years of experience and a growing portfolio of incredible luxury landmark hotels around the world. The company was originally established in 1970 by the government of Qatar as Qatar National Hotels (QNH), with the purpose of managing the Gulf Hotel, which today is the Doha Marriott Hotel. In 2012, the company was re-named Katara Hospitality to reflect its heritage and international expansion plans, with a focus on pursuing investments in remarkable hotels in Qatar, while also expanding its portfolio in key global markets.

As part of Katara Hospitalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategic vision, it continues to grow its portfolio of iconic hotels and to invest and acquire in key sought-after international markets, while also maintaining its strong position as a hospitality market leader in its home country, Qatar. CELEBRATED HOSPITALITY ICONS Katara Hospitalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aim is to develop a portfolio of unique properties that are celebrated hospitality icons around the world. The organisation constantly aspires to create and invest in extraordinary legacy projects aligned to its commitment to preserve history and heritage. Katara Hospitality takes immense

THE MIDDLE EAST

pride in revamping buildings that carry fascinating history, transforming them into remarkable hospitality complexes. Each Katara Hospitality property is a hospitality icon in its own right, further strengthening Qatar’s reputation as a key global tourism industry player. As the company expands its international footprint, Katara Hospitality follows a healthy diversification strategy, aiming to create a network of five- and four-star business hotels and leisure resorts in key tourist destinations. This business-driven approach ensures a balance is achieved across assets with short- and long-term profitability and that the company’s cash-flow projections adequately support its development. At the same time, when entering a project, the organisation always looks for something special – something that sets it apart. Each new property adds an exceptional dimension to the business, while taking into account the returns the hotel is likely to yield. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT Katara Hospitality plays a significant role in Qatar’s strategic development as the country's flagship hospitality company and invests in the best international hotels with the intention of restoring their glory – while also adding extra special touches that make each property memorable. The owner currently has a rich portfolio of properties across three continents in countries including Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand and the US. While Katara Hospitality strives to partner with some of the finest hotel management companies, it also owns its standalone operating division, Murwab Hotel Group, which was launched early in 2015. The group manages an international collection of boutique upscale hotels and brands offering contemporary hospitality steeped in cultural heritage. Murwab Hotel Group currently manages properties under its three main areas of business: Murwab Hotels, The Bürgenstock Selection, as well as a collection of independent non-branded upscale hotels. Looking forward, the company is focusing on its next strategic target of expanding its portfolio to 60 properties by 2026, having surpassed its previous target by two years. In Qatar, the company has shaped the

2020 strategy Katara Hospitality is focused on its international expansion. In tandem with this, we intend to maintain our position as a market leader in Qatar, while encouraging private investors to participate in building a solid hospitality network within the country. We are continuously looking to invest in a collection of unique properties in key sought-after international locations while partnering with some of the world’s ﬁnest hotel brands, ensuring

“

they are aligned to our ethos and brand values. We continue to acquire and invest in properties that have set industry standards, growing our enviable portfolio of iconic hotels around the globe. Our diversiﬁcation strategy targets the luxury market, as well as the corporate and leisure segments. It covers a wide range of tourist requirements, enhances the cash-ﬂow projections to support the company’s development and ensures a

Katara Hospitality’s aim is to develop a portfolio of unique properties that are celebrated hospitality icons around the world”

balance is achieved across assets of short- and longterm proﬁtability. As we expand the operator side of our business, we will open seven new hotels that are currently in the ﬁnal stages of development. The recently launched Murwab Hotel Group, our standalone operations arm headquartered in Qatar, will become a key focus for our organisation over the coming months, alongside our core business of hotel asset management.

hospitality landscape for more than four decades and today, is part of the national infrastructure that grows in tandem with the country’s development. In international markets, Katara Hospitality’s focus goes beyond acquiring iconic properties. In line with its commitment to preserving heritage, the company also creates hospitality icons by turning assets that were designed for other purposes into true hospitality gems. MODERN ICONS In addition to these major acquisitions, Katara Hospitality is leading spectacular new projects that will redefine the design and presentation of luxury hospitality in Qatar.

Presidential Suite veranda at Raffles Singapore

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THE MIDDLE EAST

Katara Hospitality’s message to WTM We are proud to be exhibiting at World Travel Market with the Qatar Tourism Authority. Our vision is aligned to the nation’s ‘Vision 2030’ – leading the country on the path of economic diversiﬁcation and recognising the increasing demand in international tourism. We are keen on preserving existing industry heritage and acquiring spectacular properties that once set the standards in the sector and today represent a hospitality legacy. As each of our properties is a hospitality icon in its own right, we further enhance Qatar’s reputation as a key player in the global tourism market.

Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha, Qatar

Katara Towers in Doha is scheduled to open in 2021

Latest news and developments Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha, Qatar: The ﬁrst Luxury Collection hotel opened in Doha in October 2019 and features the city’s largest ladies-only wellness retreat. Rafﬂes Hotel Singapore: This global hotel icon recently reopened its doors following a meticulous two-year restoration project. Katara Towers in Doha’s Lusail Marina District: This mixed-use hospitality project, currently under construction and expected to open in 2021, is an architectural translation of Qatar’s country seal. Katara Towers will feature a luxury hotel and an ultra-luxury hotel and branded apartments, as well as world-class spas, restaurants and retail and a waterfront pedestrian promenade with spectacular Arabian Gulf views.

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One of the organisation’s most significant projects, which is currently under construction, is Katara Towers in the Lusail Marina District – a luxury hospitality complex intended as an architectural translation of Qatar’s country seal. Hosting a five-star ultra-luxury hotel and branded apartments, the project’s twin arched towers rise gracefully from the podium level to represent the seal’s crossed swords. With its incredible design, complemented by landscaped gardens and palm trees, Katara Towers is set to become the hospitality icon of the 21st century. As the organisation continues its journey to redevelop iconic legacy hotels across the globe, it is immensely proud to be increasingly recognised as a Qatari organisation that modernises period and heritage properties in key tourism destinations, bringing them in line with world-class standards. However, at the core of any successful hospitality business is its people. It is talent that truly drives a hotel company forward, delivering the end result of exceptional guest experiences.

Every member of the Katara Hospitality team plays a crucial role in protecting and building the company's reputation as a global leader in its sector. The organisation aims to fully leverage the dedication and commtiment of its team, as well as its 45 years of experience, to cement its reputation as one of the world’s leading hospitality specialists, ensuring the company's ambitious vision becomes a reality. Katara Hospitality aligns its business strategy to the values and objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and takes its role in the creation of a local knowledge economy very seriously, paying special attention to the country’s Qatarisation policies. The company's agenda includes training and equipping Qatari nationals for a successful career in the hospitality industry. Talent development is, and will always be, a focus area for the organisation. Katara Hospitality is committed to providing robust training and development programmes for all employees to ensure young Qataris become the country’s future hospitality leaders.

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870 miles of hiking holidays made easy. One path, 50 downloadable itineraries for 2020. Download: WalesCoastPath.gov.uk/plan-your-visit/itineraries 40 years of WTM London 115

Star moments A snapshot of the famous faces that have visited WTM London over the past 40 years

British '80s pop star Cheryl Baker hosts a competition with contestants Martine, Marie and Claire in Lunn Polly T-shirts Conservationist David Bellamy makes an appearance at the Seychelles stand

Fiona Jeffery with then London Mayor, Ken Livingston, viewing the plans for WTMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move to ExCeL Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan opens WTM in 2002

The late Lord Boyd-Carpenter KBE, complete with head dress

British politician and former track and field athlete Lord Seb Coe

Martha Lane Fox, a founder of Lastminute.com

'Scary Spice' Mel B of pop group, the Spice Girls

WTMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fiona Jeffery and Hollywood mega star Michael Douglas

12 Mickey Mouse

and a lucky WTM visitor 13 WTM Exhibition

Director 19801982 Frank Boiteux with son Adrian (aged 2) and Miss World 1980, Kimberly Santos of Guam. 14 WTM Stage

British TV personality Lorraine Kelly

TV travel host Judith Chalmers poses for the camera with fellow award winners

Director Leonard Pearcey and Miss World 1980, Kimberly Santos of Guam

9 8 12

10 11

17 19

24 18 27

26 25 33 116 40 years of WTM London

WTM STAR MOMENTS 15 Entrepreneur

Sir Richard Branson, WTMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fiona Jeffery and a Eurostar representative

16 Welsh singing

British track and field athlete Steve Cam

23 Jamaican

hotelier and businessman the Hon. 'Butch' Gordon Stewart, founder of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts

Former British tennis player and now TV personality and commentator, Sue Barker

star Shirley Bassey with WTM Stage Director Leonard Pearcey 21 Former England football manager Sven-Goran 17 Cricketing legend Sir Gary Sobers Eriksson signing with sports stars autographs at WTM 22 WTM honours industry legends 18 Retired British rower and at Tribute 21 Olympic gold (WTM 2000) medallist Sir Steve Redgrave

24 Founding

member of the European Travel Commission, the late Leonard Lickorish CBE 25 Famous British

Travel industry veteran, the late Richard Tobias OBE Veteran of four space shuttle missions, astronaut Don Thomas British wildlife TV presenter Kate Humble

30 English

33 Former Mayor

footballers Rio Ferdinand (right) and Bob Zamora on the Cyprus stand

34 British TV 31 British politician

personality Alastair Stewart

Michael Portillo discusses his travels to Egypt at WTM 2016 32 British-Australian

actress Miriam Margolyes OBE at the Incredible India press conference, WTM 2016

The First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid

hotelier, the late Lord Forte of Ripley

of London Boris Johnson launches WTM 2009

16 15 14 13

22 23

30 21 31

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM 40 years of WTM London 119

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

WTM means responsible tourism

Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor, charts the growth of the responsible tourism movement and the role WTM has played as a platform for driving its agenda to the global travel industry

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

TM hosts the world’s largest responsible tourism event at WTM London each year. Its ambition is to inspire, educate and challenge the industry to take responsibility and to use tourism to make better places for people to live. Great places to live are also great places to visit. Harold Way back in 1994 at the launch of the World Travel Goodwin, WTM Responsible and Tourism Council’s (WTTC’s) Tourism for TomorTourism row Awards, Lord Colin Marshall, then chair of British Advisor Airways, pointed out that the industry needed to be concerned for the destinations it sold. “These ‘products’ must be kept fresh and unsullied, not just for the next day, but for every tomorrow,” he said. His concern was prescient. Had more attention been paid to sustainability then, the problems of over-tourism, now often on the agenda at WTM, may not have emerged as widely as they have. The case for responsible tourism is a business case; it is about how to do better business. We have occasionally addressed philanthropy, but that is not what responsible tourism is about.

ENVIRONMENT DAY Eight years before WTM was launched, in 1972, the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was staged and focused on the challenge of preserving and enhancing our environment. In 1992, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, recognised that development mattered too. There were further conferences in Johannesburg in 2002 and in Rio in 2012. The Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, was published by the United Nations in 1987 and defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. This is an extremely difficult definition to operationalise. It is aspirational, but quickly rendered meaningless if resources, or our ability to make more with less through modern science and technology, are regarded as infinite.

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The case for responsible tourism is a business case; it is about how to do better business” 40 years of WTM London 121

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The concept was weakened through misuse and became all but meaningless, with businesses often using it to indicate little more than they would still be in business next year. The tourism sector was slow to respond to the challenge of sustainability and the UNWTO’s Agenda 21 for the Travel and Tourism Industry, which outlined a programme of action for the sector, was not published until 1997. In the 1980s and 1990s, tourism was widely seen as a good thing – a pollution-free industry that could benefit local people and the environment. There was much discussion concerning the eco-tourism niche, with little attention paid to the mainstream operators, transport and accommodation providers. The United Nations declared 2002 the 'International Year of Ecotourism' and the World Tourism Organisation commissioned a series of market reports relating to it. Those studies found little evidence of demand and the product proved elusive. Former WTM Chair, Fiona Jeffery, launched the Environment Day at the Lon-

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At the heart of responsible tourism is the aspiration to use tourism to make better places for people to live in”

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don show in 1994, spearheading discussion and debate about tourism’s positive and negative impacts on environments around the world. Fiona introduced the event long before the mainstream industry was engaged and her initiative contributed significantly to raising awareness of the fact that sustainability could not be pigeon-holed in the eco-tourism sub-sector. She also founded the international water-aid charity, Just a Drop, in 1998 on behalf of the travel industry and over the past 21 years its projects have benefitted 1.5 million people in 32 countries. A BROADER AGENDA At the turn of the century, with the launch of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the sustainable development agenda broadened and became more focused on local economic development and poverty reduction, gender equality and environmental sustainability. In the UK, the government’s Sustainable Tourism Initiative resulted in the launch

of the Travel Foundation, a charity that works in partnership with businesses and governments so that tourism brings greater benefits to people and the environment. It engaged mainstream travel heavyweights such as First Choice, TUI and Thomas Cook. In 2004, the Prince of Wales’s International Business Leaders Forum launched the International Tourism Partnership, which brought together the world’s leading hotel brands to drive positive action across a broad agenda, from environmental sustainability to human rights. In 2015, the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals were set out and tourism has the potential to contribute significantly, directly or indirectly to all of these objectives. There are targets for the contribution of tourism outlined in Goals 8, 12 and 14 based on decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production and life below water. WHY RESPONSIBLE TOURISM? The idea was not new. In the 1980s, Swiss

„ The aviation sector is making slow progress with carbon emission reductions

About Harold Goodwin As WTM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor, Harold Goodwin orchestrates the flagship Responsible Tourism programme at WTM London, which attracts 2,000 participants annually, as well as editions at WTM Africa, WTM Latin America and Arabian Travel Market. Harold has also chaired the panel of judges of the WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards since they were launched in 2004 and chairs the judging panels for other awards in the World Responsible Tourism Awards family in Africa and India. Harold is Managing Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership, working with the travel industry, local communities, governments and conservationists and undertakes consultancy and evaluations for companies, NGOs, governments, and international organisations. He is also Director of Responsible Tourism at the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he is an Emeritus Professor, as well as the Founder Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, which promotes the principles of the 2002 Cape Town Declaration that he drafted.

Simon Press: Responsible tourism should be the backbone of the industry

From left: Gold and Silver winners, World Responsible Tourism Awards 2018 The industry flocked to the first WRTD in 2007

academic Jost Krippendorf, who is considered the founding father of sustainable tourism, realised that in the future, tourists would seek travel experiences and, in terms of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualisation and fulfilment. In his ground-breaking book, The Holiday Maker, published in 1987, he explained that every “individual tourist builds up or destroys human values while travelling. Orders and prohibitions will not do the job – because it is not a bad conscience that we need to make progress, but positive experience, not the feeling of compulsion, but that of responsibility”. In the mid-1990s the UK NGO Voluntary Service Overseas surveyed its volunteers abroad, asking them what they believed was the biggest issue facing the communities they worked with. It was tourism, so VSO launched an ethical tourism campaign and funded research with the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). There were two main findings. Firstly, that

many members of AITO were doing good in the destinations they visited, but not talking about it, and secondly, that the word ‘ethical’ was not going to work. Being “ethical”, it concluded, was too broad a claim. The AITO members were identifying how they could contribute to making better places for people to live in and implementing initiatives to make those changes. They were recognising needs and taking responsibility to meet and address them. The activist travel company, Responsible Travel, was launched around the same time, providing a platform, a market and a modern ‘Fish Street’ where consumers could go to buy a responsible travel experience. In post-apartheid South Africa, a new tourism strategy was published in 1996, which adopted the concept of responsible tourism for the destination. Work on the implementation guidelines in South Africa, and for the UK’s Department for International Development on tourism and poverty reduction, soon followed. These strands came together and pro-

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About the 2002 Cape Town declaration The 2002 Cape Town declaration agreed that responsible tourism: •

Minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts;

•

Generates greater economic benefits for local people, enhances the wellbeing of host communities and improves working conditions and access to the industry;

•

Involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances;

vided an opportunity, alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, to hold the 1st International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations involving 280 delegates from 20 countries, including several UN organisations. It was here that the landmark Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism was agreed, setting out goals for minimising the negative economic, environment and social impact of tourism globally. Responsible tourism minimises negative impacts; generates greater economic benefits for local people; empowers and enhances the wellbeing of host communities; improves working conditions and access to the industry; makes a contribution to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people; provides access for all; and is culturally sensitive, engendering respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence. The Cape Town Declaration definition was adopted by WTM when it launched the World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) in 2007, supported by the UNWTO. The ambition then, as is it now, was to help drive the responsible tourism agenda forward and deliver change. WTM also hosted the first UNWTO Ministers’ Summit on Tourism and Climate Change in 2007. The first WRTD panel discussion ad-

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•

Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity;

•

Provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;

•

Provides access for physically challenged people;

•

Is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

dressed' Poverty Reduction – Mainstream Concern or Token Gestures', which involved Eugenio Yunis of the UNWTO committee on Tourism Ethics and since then, the conference programme has garnered the support of major travel and tourism entities from around the world. In 2008, former Marriott Hotels President Ed Fuller was in the ‘Hot Seat’, followed by Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International, the following year. Both were interviewed by BBC broadcaster Stephen Sackur who is also a patron of Just a Drop. THE WORLD RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS British Airways’ Tourism for Tomorrow Awards started out as environmental awards, but at the turn of this century, they began to identify projects that benefited the local community, protected the natural and cultural heritage, controlled energy and water use, educated local people and visitors and contributed towards a better life in the future. When the airline ran into difficulties in 2004, it could no longer fund the venture, so Justin Francis, the CEO and co-founder of Responsible Travel, seized the opportunity to launch the Responsible Tourism Awards at World Responsible Tourism Day. He subsequently handed the baton to WTM in 2017 and the show is now responsible for organising the awards programme, applying the same processes

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Tragically, the idea that our survival as a species depends on the maintenance of a healthy environment and species diversity still struggles to become mainstream”

Over-tourism is an ongoing issue

and standards each year, but judged by a new panel or experts, business professionals and academics, led by me in my role as WTM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor. Award programmes also run at Reed shows in Africa, India and Latin America and feature a wide range of winners, from major tour operators, airlines and large hotel groups to homestays and conservation initiatives. We are looking for trailblazers – those who are moving beyond ‘business as usual’ – to make this a better world in which to live. Every year we publish the explanation behind the judges’ decisions in order to educate, inspire and challenge others to do more. The awards are competitive and respected. THE PROGRAMME CONTINUES TO GROW In 2010, Simon Press arrived as WTM’s Senior Exhibition Director and the responsible tourism programme flourished. It was expanded to include additional shows

across its portfolio including WTM Africa, WTM Latin America and Arabian Travel Market. By 2011, WTM was declaring the ‘Age of Responsible Tourism’ and there were 16 sessions on the conference schedule. One of them raised the issue of child protection and WRTD broadened its programme to include this topic. Child protection has been on the agenda at every WTM in London since and it is one of the areas where we have driven change. By 2013, close to 2,000 delegates were attending the WRTD sessions and we looked to extend the programme year round. This has now been achieved with weekly blogs posted and a programme rolled-out at all WTM shows. In 2014, the responsible tourism sessions spanned all four days of the show. That same year, the WTM Industry Report found that 60% of travel trade professionals believed that the number of responsible

tourism initiatives would increase over the next three years and 90% said it was now important to their business. In 2015, we linked the programme to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and in 2016, we reflected on our progress during the first 10 years of responsible tourism at World Travel Market. Speaking at the event, Simon Press remarked that “responsible tourism should be the backbone of the industry”. More recently we have addressed overtourism, a consequence of the failure to address sustainability over many years. We have also moved the panels onto the show floor, which has attracted new participants to the event. In 2019, we are focusing on solutions, bringing on board a wide range of speakers with practical experience of implementing responsible practices that are making a difference.

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About WTM World Responsible Tourism Day There is only one World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) and it is marked on the final day of World Travel Market London. With support from the UNWTO, WTM World Responsible Tourism Day wants the travel industry to work together to: •

Help drive change by educating more responsible behaviour amongst the travel and tourism industry and travelling public;

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Explore the issues of how countries and destinations are made more sustainable including case studies of best practices;

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Educate the marketplace and debate key environmental related issues to push the agenda and be a catalyst for change;

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Harness the influence of World Travel Market as an international business forum to encourage the industry to drive the responsible tourism agenda forward.

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THE PROGRESS – AND THE FUTURE As Responsible Travel's Justin Francis said in 2016: “We have moved from no one knowing what responsible tourism was, to people saying they can’t do anything about it, to people asking me to tell them what to do, to now people saying, ‘let me show you what we do’.” Jane Ashton, Director of Sustainability at TUI, has also commented: “We have been hesitant because we were worried about greenwash, and now perhaps we are risking so-called ‘green hush’ and not talking about it enough.” WRTD will continue to reveal and promote good practice through the programme and its renowned awards programme. But what of our future? The 1972 UN conference focused on the Human Environment – our environment, the one we depend on for our very survival. Tragically, the idea that our survival as a species depends on the maintenance of a healthy environment and species diversity

still struggles to become mainstream. The language moves on, and we now hear about ecology and ecosystem services, James Lovelock’s Gaia principle and biodiversity. Awareness is slowly growing of the fact that we live on a finite planet, earth, and that there are limits to growth. The WTTC reports that the travel and tourism sector is now 10.4% of all global economic activity and that it grew at 3.9% per annum in 2018. For the eighth consecutive year, the sector grew faster than world GDP, but with growth comes challenges. Take aviation, for example, which is driving the expansion of the travel and tourism sector, but making slow progress to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. At the heart of responsible tourism is the aspiration to use tourism to make better places for people to live in and to visit, and for businesses to be clear about what they are taking responsibility for, why, and about the impact they are having.

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

Travel as a catalyst for good The new ground-breaking Travalyst partnership, spearheaded by HRH The Duke of Sussex, is calling on likeminded companies, organisations and changemakers to transform the future of travel into a more sustainable one

n September 2019, His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex launched ‘Travalyst’ – a new partnership which brings travel companies together to come up with solutions to make travel more ethical and sustainable. The bold global initiative, founded by Booking.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor and Visa has a clear ambition – to change the impact of travel, for good. In its mission statement, the Travalyst team stated: “We believe in the power and importance of travel and that we also have a shared responsibility to our planet and to each other. That’s why we’re coming together as a catalyst for change. We want to be the driving force that paves a new way to travel, helping everyone explore our

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world in a way that protects both people and places, and secures a positive future for destinations and local communities for generations to come.” Working with companies, consumers and communities, the partnership will initially explore and promote solutions that help drive sustainable practices and consumer choices in areas including; supporting local people, protecting wildlife, tackling climate change and environmental damage, and alleviating over-tourism. At the Travalyst launch in Amsterdam His Royal Highness spoke of his own experiences travelling around the world, and how they inspired him to set up the initiative. “Over the years I’ve had the distinct privilege of working around the globe

representing my Grandmother, The Queen, throughout the Commonwealth and beyond,” he said. “This role has given me a unique perspective on the issues the world faces, and an opportunity to meet a diverse range of communities – to hear them describe their problems, as well as their ideas for solutions.”

„

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

The initiative aims to pave a new way to travel so that everyone can explore the world in a way that ensures cultures, places, and wildlife are unharmed and secured for many generations to come” His Royal Highness, The Duke of Sussex

„

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The Duke of Sussex used one very specific example of the effect tourism is having on communities. “There is one moment that stands out in my memory from a trip I made back in 2012 while representing my Grandmother in the Caribbean,” he explained. “As I walked to the boat to observe a coral reef replanting project, I had a seven

Ajman appeals to tourists of all ages and nationalities, from those seeking a luxury beach holiday to those with a love of shopping or culture and heritage”

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The time is now The number of people around the world taking international trips has more than doubled since 2000 and is set to increase by the same number again in 2030, according to the World Bank. The UNTWO sets the figure at around 1.8 billion. As more people travel, so the impact on the environment and local communities increases, but so too do the opportunities to do good with every trip we take. The good news is that people want to change the way they travel for the greater good. According to Booking.com’s 2019 Sustainable Travel Report:

71% Yangmingshan:

of global travellers think travel a mountaineercompanies should offer more ing hotspot sustainable travel choices

68%

of people said it was important that the money they spent on travel went back into the local community

78%

of travellers actively seek authentic experiences that are representative of local culture Travalyst is looking to establish collaborative partnerships that bring together the collective expertise and perspectives of local communities, policymakers, governments, NGOs, other leading businesses and social entrepreneurs, leveraging technology and strategic initiatives to help scale the global supply of sustainable travel options to meet this growing mass market demand from consumers.

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year old come up to me, tug my shirt, and say with such conviction: ‘Because of your country, my country’s coral reef is dying’. “This boy, despite his age, had touched on a powerful truth. He already understood that the environmental damage caused to the reef was created by the actions of people outside of his country. And he was absolutely spot on.” The Duke also spoke of the importance of involving the people who drive the travel industry and understand it better than anyone else in order to deliver change. “One thing I’ve learned, again and again, is that often the best solution comes from

within – from the local community members who live and breathe it every day,” explained His Highness. “The initiative aims to pave a new way to travel so that everyone can explore the world in a way that ensures cultures, places, and wildlife are unharmed and secured for many generations to come.” Travalyst partners have set their sights high – they want to lead a major shift in the way the world travels. “We are making this a priority and we want to encourage our peers, business partners and customers to do so as well. “How we get there, where we stay and

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

Travalyst partners make their pledge “Travel has the unparalleled power to open people’s minds to different cultures, new experiences and to have a profound appreciation for what our world has to offer. As tourism inevitably grows, it is critically important to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices worldwide; and to balance this growth with the needs of the environment and the local population. Bringing companies, consumers and communities together is our best chance to protect destinations and ecosystems for future generations.” His Royal Highness, The Duke of Sussex “The commitment from these different brands to work together and help build a global network of like-minded social entrepreneurs, NGOs and policymakers is truly inspiring. Collaboration is the only path forward if we want to create a real paradigm shift in travel. We want to protect the destinations we all love and guarantee that they are happy and healthy for generations to come, but we can’t do it on our own. Even though we don’t have all the answers yet, we are determined to find them together.” Gillian Tans, Chairwoman, Booking.com “Travel is a powerful means of bringing us closer – to share the beauty of our countries and our myriad cultures, to find our common humanity. But with travel comes the duty to protect our fragile planet. That’s why we are working with the brightest minds to ensure that generations to come can follow in our footsteps sustainably and the world and its people can grow together.” Jane Sun, CEO, Ctrip

what we do matters,” said the partnership in a statement. “Together with the HRH The Duke of Sussex, our aim is to spark a movement of like-minded companies, organisation and changemakers to transform the future of travel into a more sustainable one that supports and protects destination and local communities for decades to come. “We will use our influence to explore and promote initiatives worldwide that have the ability to preserve destinations, ensure that local communities thrive and protect wildlife and environments through responsible practices.”

Did you know? The global sustainable tourism market is predicted to grow by $340bn, or 10%, within the next four years

“Global travel is a modern-day gift, bringing together cultures and communities across our planet. As such, we have an obligation to preserve our world for future generations to explore and enjoy – but to do this we need to act now as change won’t happen overnight. As the biggest players in the travel industry we have a responsibility to use our collective scale to lead this change.” Bryan Dove, CEO, Skyscanner “We all have a responsibility to try and protect our precious planet and communities for generations to come. I truly believe more can be achieved by joining together than going alone, which is why we’re excited to be part of Travalyst as we collectively seek out ways to make a positive impact on the future of travel.” Stephen Kaufer, President & CEO, TripAdvisor “Enabling global travel and commerce through digital payments is one of many ways Visa connects and empowers individuals, businesses and economies every day. We are dedicated to doing so in a way that supports our commitment to sustainability. We are proud to be part of this initiative to support long-term economic growth through tourism.” Al Kelly, Chairman and CEO, Visa

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It’s time to take responsibility Government, industry, education institutions, communities and travellers must come together to put effective sustainable tourism strategies in place, says Haitham Mattar, Senior Advisor, Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH)

s more regions and countries develop their tourism industry, it produces significant impact on natural resources, pollution, food, water and energy consumption, as well as the social environment. Internationally, tourist arrivals have increased from 25 million globally in 1950 to 1.1 billion in 2018, and they are expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030. Travel and tourism represents 11.5% of the total global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and one in every 11 jobs globally is related to tourism. Over-tourism is a term that was first introduced when destinations like Barcelona, Milan and Iceland had a pushback on tourism from residents, as tourists were overcrowding the areas where they lived, particularly during peak season. This impacted their lifestyle, including their access to basics such as food, water and amenities. There are various negative consequences of tourism on the environment, wildlife and the habitat. In the Western World, 17% of the world’s population currently consumes 52% of the total global energy. A European uses 14 times more energy than someone living in India, for example. At the same time, more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas and the number of cars on the roads has surpassed one billion. This figure is expected to reach two billion by 2035. We are witnessing the extinction of species of animals

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and plants at a very fast rate; more than 60% of marine life is threatened and the world’s coral reefs are in jeopardy. It is also said that a visitor uses 10% more water and energy than residents when staying at a hotel or hotel apartment. Some resorts can use up to 12 million litres of water annually, with the average hotel room guest using 1,800 litres per person per night. Buzzwords like ‘sustainable tourism’ are becoming more common. But they can be vague to the average person. If you think you need clarity, you are not alone. The concept of sustainability is straightforward and to the point. It all centres around humans avoiding the depletion of resources whether environmental, economic or cultural. Sustainable tourism is about educating tourists, enforcing the responsibility and adapting. Not everything depends on tourism, although some destinations generate up to 50% of their GDP from the sector. It is also about educating tourists and residents to buy local and seasonal and to eat more vegetables and less beef. Eating beef is the most water consumptive practice undertaken by travellers. In addition, locally grown food has countless benefits, including the economic opportunities it creates. It also diminishes environmental impact and helps to bring communities together. Tourism strategies must not only take economic impact into consideration, but place the same onus on social and environmental aspects. The local community, residents, visitors, the industry and government must all contribute to a destination’s tourism plan. It starts with governments addressing environmental and social concerns through polices, practices and initiatives and providing travellers with guidelines on how to travel responsibly and sustainably and to be carbon conscious. As the UNWTO stated in 2004: “Sustainable tourism and sustainable tourism development is the responsibility of all the relevant stakeholders, as well as strong governance and leadership to ensure compliance and participation. “For a city or destination to achieve sustainable tourism it requires the participation of all industry partners, the visitors, the residents and government, with constant moni-

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Sustainable tourism is about educating tourists, enforcing the responsibility and adapting”

toring of impacts and quickly introducing the corrective measures. Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure meaningful experiences to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them.” It is encouraging to note a growing movement in support of sustainable tourism over the past few years. Progress is being seen across the tourism industry, government and education in support of these efforts. We need to see more tourism leaders follow the example of Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney World Resorts, the most visited tourist destination globally, has taken strong leadership in sustainable tourism, establishing corporate goals such as reducing

zero net direct greenhouse emissions by 50%, power and electricity consumption by 10% and limiting the amount of waste sent to landfill by 50%. Imagine the impact if the entire tourism industry followed suit. Working together, the tourism industry, government leaders and educational institutions can start to implement sustainability models that others will be forced to follow. Every traveller has a role to play too by choosing resorts and destinations that practice sustainable tourism – those following recognised sustainable tourism certification programmes. Sustainable tourism, when practiced, is indeed a global solution to many environmental, economic and social challenges the world is facing and will be one of the most critical strategies for the global transition to a sustainable future.

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I t r u l y b e li e ve t ha t busine s se s doing th he right th hin n g by embracin ng e c onomicc, s o c ial an d envir on nme n t al g o a l s h av e the abilitt y to ac h i e ve s o m u c h a n d m a ke a r eaal diff f er encc e to th h e wo r ld ar ound th h e mâ&#x20AC;? F io ion n a Jeffee ry O BEE , F o und d e r a nd C haa ir, J us ustt a D ropp

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Doing the right thing how businesses can help change our world

hen I took over the reins of World Travel Market in 1994, I was inspired to create an event that would mean more to people than simply attending a successful, commercial, global travel and tourism exhibition. Being successful in the business is clearly important, but as the daughter of a doctor and nurse, I had always felt there needed to be more purpose to business than simply delivering commercial value to my company and valued clients. I realised I was in a unique position to positively influence and make a change in an industry for which I was passionate and cared about. In 1996, I launched Environmental Awareness Day – now World Responsible Tourism Day – as a way of encouraging and educating our industry in better, more environmentally sound ways to practice and develop tourism. Sustainable tourism is now highly topical and top of the news agenda, but, in 1996, I could count on two hands how many people were

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Fiona Jeffery OBE, Founder and Chair of Just a Drop, discusses the international water development charity’s achievements over the past 21 years

Fiona at a hand pump installed by Just a Drop in Buguluube, Uganda

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I realised I was in a unique position to positively influence and make a change in an industry for which I was passionate and cared about”

genuinely interested in the issue. The struggle I experienced in getting this idea off the ground compelled me to devise another initiative the travel and tourism industry simply couldn’t ignore. So, two years later and pregnant with my second child, I developed another idea, which I believed the industry could support – one with the environment as its heart and with global reach and impact. It was around this time I became aware of some shocking statistics – every 17 seconds, a child dies from dirty water. In fact dirty water kills more children under the age of five than malaria, measles and HIV combined. However, just £1 can provide a child with clean water for nearly 10 years. I knew that if I could encourage everyone attending WTM to donate just £1, $1 or €1, then collectively we could make a huge difference and transform lives across the world; and so Just a Drop was born.

21 years of progress

1998

1999

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2002

A child dies every 17 seconds from dirty water - JAD launches at WTM and Fiona speaks at Red Cross Dinner with TV newscaster Angela Rippon.

Colonel John Blashford Snell CBE is named president of JAD. The organisation recruits its first project officer, Captain Jim Masters MBE. JAD supports relief efforts in the Caribbean postHurricane Mitch

After floods devastate Mozambique, Fiona visits refugee camps there and in Malawi where JAD is helping secure safe water supplies

First project launches in India in Meghalaya. ITN newscaster Alastair Stewart is named a patron

JAD begins installing water systems in mother & baby clinics in Afghanistan, a country with the world's highest rate of mortality in childbirth.

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Above: Just a Drop has transformed the lives of children at Bibbo Primary School Left: Raising donations at WTM

Far Left: Bibbo Primary School in Uganda can now grow its own fresh produce

In 1998, ‘Corporate Social responsibility’ was not part of the boardroom agenda. It was therefore my mission to ensure that businesses supporting Just a Drop were invested in making a positive impact. I needed them to understand exactly where their funds were going and see the real difference their efforts were making to peoples’ lives, and, ultimately, to feel good about this. A huge thanks to Reed Exhibitions as it supported this vision from the start and continues to do so. Just a Drop started in 1998 purely as a volunteer-run organisation. The international explorer, Colonel John Blashford-Snell,

2003

2004

2005

2006

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2008

Begins working with communities in Tanzania

2.6 billion people (one in three worldwide) don’t have access to adequate sanitation

Hurricane Ivan devastates Grenada. JAD works with travel industry & restores water systems to devastated communities

JAD works with PATA and provides relief to villages Rumpet and Aceh Java following the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2005

JAD is still a purely volunteer organisation

JAD celebrates 10th anniversary and raises its first £1million. 1.5 million children are still dying every year from diarrhoeal diseases. Reed Exhibitions Italy supports JAD

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opened WTM the following year and felt passionate about our cause. He became the charity’s president and as a result, we were able to recruit several project engineers and officers who were former Royal Engineers – highly skilled and well-equipped individuals who were able to identify and develop the most effective and reliable engineering solutions for each community, despite the challenging environments we faced. They all volunteered their time, as do our project engineers and hydrogeologists today, many of them taking time out of their day jobs to oversee our life-changing work, ensuring its long-term sustainability. World Travel Market, Reed Exhibitions and the wider travel industry have always played a critical role in Just a Drop’s evolution and success. To date, more than £6.5 million has been raised, bringing safe water and sanitation to more than 1.5 million people across 32 countries worldwide. This is the proof that ‘doing the right thing in business’ can be truly transformational. Just a Drop is personal and hands-on in its approach, with a team of seven full- and part-time employees and many dedicated volunteers committed to delivering longterm sustainable programmes that create real impact. We embrace the wider social and environmental agenda, with our work supporting 11 of the 17 United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, including Climate Action. What we do is not aid, but development. Just a Drop supports communities by providing access to safe water and sanitation through hands-on, community-led projects. With water, opportunities to develop are abundant. Our holistic approach means water is just the beginning. From Menstrual Hygiene

Management programmes to ensure girls can manage their periods with dignity and continue with their education and micro-finance opportunities that support women into business, to food security programmes that provide communities with the skills and knowledge to grow drought-resistant, climate-appropriate crops – all of our projects begin with water, but continue to have a lasting impact, enabling communities to develop, flourish and reach their full potential. For example, Bibbo Primary School in Uganda demonstrates the seismic shift that can occur when a school or community is supported in the right way. I remember how shocked I felt when I first visited Bibbo in 2016. There was no water at all and toilets that had been built only six years previously were dangerous and

2009

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2013

First JAD lecture staged at Royal Geographical Society; poses the question “Is Water the new Oil?”

A child dies every 20 seconds from waterborne diseases. Royal Engineer Colonel Mike Reynolds recruited to oversee JAD projects in Kenya. Haiti earthquake leads to travel industry raising £175,000

First paid staff member Melissa Campbell joins JAD. Projects launched in countries including Afghanistan, Mongolia, Phillipines, Nicaragua, Haiti, Kenya and Zambia. The film What We Do debuts

JAD completes its 100th project and launches Go Blue campaign for World Water Day. Fiona’s son and his school mates at Epsom College raise £16,000 for JAD. First sand dam built in Kenya

JAD installs water purification systems in Mexican schools and appoints dedicated project engineers in every country where it has a presence. Annual JAD Golf Day raises more than £100K over 10 years

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Just a Drop launched in 1998 as a volunteer-run organisation

£6.5m

raised bringing safe water and sanitation to

1.5m 32 people in

countries

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JAD has brought safe water and sanitation to 1.5 million people

in total disrepair. The children had nothing to drink from 8am until they went home at night and were listless, lethargic and struggling to concentrate. The teachers confessed to feeling weary and despondent and attendance had dropped to as low as 100 pupils. Two years on, with Just a Drop committed to installing two water tanks, a toilet block and carrying out sanitation and hygiene training, the school is a thriving community taking pride in its growing success and achievements. There are now 232 pupils and 14 members of staff. The children are now full of energy, proudly showing us their latrine blocks and how to keep them clean. Most pleasing of all was witnessing how the school is using the availability of water to improve the environment for everyone. They are now growing spinach, carrots, maize, beans, aubergines, cabbage and matoc, which means the children and staff are now fed at breakfast and lunchtime. What a transformation! Yet, this change wouldn’t have happened without the support of the travel and tourism businesses prepared to invest and give back to communities. When I first started Just a Drop, I’d tell my team, ‘from small acorns, grow oak trees’, and I truly believe that businesses doing the right thing by embracing economic, social and environmental goals have the ability to achieve so much and make a real difference to the world around them. Access to clean, safe water is just the beginning. Do you have a pound in your pocket? Visit the Just a Drop at stand BL2 located at Central Boulevard at World Travel Market.

2014

2015

2016

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2018

Monarch Airlines partners with JAD, while new JAD patrons include Alexander Armstrong, Alastair Stewart, Stephen Sackur and Tracy Edwards. Film Imagine is shot. JAD continues its work in Haiti

JAD reveals it monitors each of its projects for a minimum period of seven years. It also launches Mums Army campaign with Alexander Armstrong

Hosts reception at 10 Downing Street with Samantha Cameron, while Colonel Mike Reynolds receives Point of Light Award for services to charity. Celebrates completion of 200th project

Launches new programme and partnership in Nicaragua.

Jetset Holidays donates £50,000 to JAD to mark its 50th anniversary as a business at JAD Golf Day

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Wee c on ngratu ulaate Ind doneesiaa, hicch hass wh woork ked d too ha arn nesss thee ecc on nom micc beenee fitt s o f d Traavel and Toourrism m, wh hicch noow coontrib buttes S $6 60 ovverr US billlioon to theirr ecc on nom my,, coompared d too US S $ 38 8 biillion in 20 0 08 8â&#x20AC;? Gloriaa Guevara, President & CEO, Worldd Travee l & Tou u rism Coo uncil ( WTTC))

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ASIA 40 years of WTM London 143

ASIA & PACIFIC

343mn

international tourist arrivals in 2018

NORTH EAST ASIA

US$2.1tn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

9.6%

of whole economy GDP

SOUTH ASIA

US$296bn Travel and tourism GDP contribution

8.8%

of whole economy GDP

SOUTH EAST ASIA

US$373bn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

12.6%

of whole economy GDP

CHINA

2nd largest

contribution to global travel and tourism GDP in 2018 Worth

US$1,509bn 7.3% tourism GDP growth

BANGKOK

Most visited city globally in 2018

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Asia Ancient civilisations, vast landscapes, life-giving cuisine and futuristic fancies

SPOTLIGHT ON…

Bali, Indonesia Voted #1 Asian destination 2019 by TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards

Bali is a living postcard, an Indonesian paradise where you can soak up the sun on white sandy beaches, dive along coral ridges, explore the lush jungles, visit the ‘artistic capital’ of Ubud and watch a cultural dance performance, or invigorate your mind and body in a yoga class.

Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Mastercard, TripAdvisor

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Sri Laank ka is as beauttifu ul as eveer, witth thee most hospiitab blee peoople; notthin ng hass chan ngeed. I t’s timee too thank k ‘frrien ndss o f Sri Laank ka’ – with h yourr sup ppoort wee aree coonff ideent tourissm will be our toop-perr forming g secc tor again in no tim me at all” Charmarie Maee lge, Maa naging Directoo r, Srr i Lankaa Tourii sm Prom m otionss Bureau u

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The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

ASIA

oasting eight world-class UNESCO heritage sites, including the imperious Sigiriya rock standing 370-metres tall, the fortified city of Galle and the virgin Sinharaja Rainforest, Sri Lanka is so much more than a beach destination. This compact island has a multi-ethnic vibe, combining Buddhist culture with a Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burger population.

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Sri Lanka boasts a host of amazing attractions ranging from unique wildlife experiences to unspoiled beaches with blue skies and huge national parks with enough elephants for everyone. Overwhelmingly beautiful is the best way to describe this Indian Ocean gem of an island. There are stunning coastlines and idyllic beaches, but head inland and a wealth of unique tourist attractions await. Sri Lanka is widely known as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pearl of the Indian Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; due to its incredible beauty, varied biodiversity

Beautiful view from a tea plantation near Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka is not only getting back on track following a difficult year, but standing firmly by its commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism By Sussie Willett

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and precious gemstones. It is also a major producer of cinnamon and the world’s fourth-largest tea exporter; has the highest literacy rate in the region; was the first country in the world to have a female president; and lays claim to the world’s oldest human-planted Bodhi Tree (planted in 288 BC!) With a rich history and heritage, but equally, as a modern country with a growing profile on the world stage, Sri Lanka is a destination that appeals to travellers of all ages and interests.

BOUNCING BACK The Sri Lankan Civil War came to an end in 2009 and since then, the country has been at peace. It has enjoyed a period of economic growth and has strengthened ties regionally and internationally. The tourism industry has benefited, with the number of arrivals rising by 10% in 2018. However, Sri Lanka, like many other

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Sri Lanka was deeply affected by Easter’s events, but it remains a peaceful country and it is determined to bounce back” 40 years of WTM London 149

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Did you know? destinations, has also had its fair share of challenges, most recently the Easter security incident, which left people asking the question, ‘Is Sri Lanka safe to visit?’. The Ministry of Tourism Development, Wildlife & Christian Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) and industry partners, have been fighting back with various proactive initiatives and as a result, the tourism sector has recovered more quickly than anticipated, giving the country’s entire economy a much-needed boost. Measures implemented to get the sector back on track have included granting visa fee waivers to visitors from 48 countries, which has led to a resurgence in tourist bookings. Value-for-money flights and holiday packages have also encouraged travellers from around the world to book a trip to this breathtaking country. SRI LANKA SAYS THANK YOU Government authorities insist the situation is now peaceful in Sri Lanka and it is safe to visit. The country is determined to regain its status as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. Accolades from leading travel publications including Lonely Planet and Travel and Leisure, which both named Sri Lanka one of the world's top destinations to visit in 2019, are certainly playing a role in supporting the country's recovery. At the same time, many first-time and repeat visitors – ‘friends of Sri Lanka’– are showing their support. FOOD FOR THOUGHT So, what’s new in Sri Lanka? What can tourists look forward to when visiting? Thanks to the internet and social media, more people are able to share their experiences of the destination and can easily broadcast them all over the world. One recent project, under the Sri Lanka Tourism’s Travel Blogger & Influencer Programme, is enticing tourists to experience the mouthwatering cuisine the destination has to offer. Sri Lankan cuisine also recently ranked first in the BBC Good Food Guide's '15 food trends for 2019'. The SLTPB is working on many initiatives

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The word ‘Serendipity’ derives from Sri Lanka. The ancient name of Sri Lanka was ‘Serendip’. Of Arabic origin, the name was recorded in use as early as 361 AD, and for a time, gained considerable currency. In the 18th century, Horace Walpole invented the English word ‘serendipity’ after being inspired by a Persian fairy tale, ‘The Three Princes of Serendip’, whose heroes often made discoveries by chance. With the perfect meaning behind it, it is easy to understand how there is Serendipity in Sri Lanka, given the country’s many hidden beauties.

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[There are] wildlife experiences, unspoiled beaches with blue skies, amazing national parks and enough elephants for everyone”

to help visitors explore the country’s culinary diversity. Its current focus is Jaffna, the capital city of Sri Lanka's Northern Province, which is being pitched as a popular seafood destination for international foodie travellers. DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING Several developments designed to improve Sri Lanka’s tourism infrastructure are in planning or coming to fruition. Jaffna International Airport opened last month, providing travellers with a convenient gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula. Sri Lanka is also working with international hospitality groups to modernise the island’s accommodation offering and has strict policies in place that encourage the involvement of hoteliers with a strong commitment to sustainability. Several upscale international hotel brands have entered the market recently and many additional properties are in the pipeline. Anyone visiting Colombo’s bustling city centre today will be impressed with the rapidly changing skyline, dominated by big names in hospitality. At the same time, innovative boutique hotels have opened their doors, with many having won international awards for their unique propositions. In terms of attractions, discussions are underway to build a new family friendly entertainment park in Colombo, with foreign investors looking to plough US$4 million into the ‘Fantasy Island’ project. A $50 million cable car attraction in the hill country town of Nuwara Eliya is also in the development pipeline, with initial clearance for the project having recently been granted approval. SLTPB has strengthened its marketing efforts too, prioritising investment in trade and consumer campaigns and launching aggressive global advertising and promotions conducted in key markets, supported by key tour operators. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT With Sri Lanka’s tourism industry recovering and plans in place to develop a host of new projects, the destination has proven there is a ‘rainbow after the storm’. With perseverance, Sri Lanka has overcome var-

From top: Sri Lanka is one of the world’s leading experiential destinations Sri Lanka’s stunning coastline Elephant at Sigiriya rock Copyright: Jackson Groves

ious obstacles and through it all, has never lost sight of its commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism, which remains a national priority. A National Sustainable Tourism Certification Scheme has been launched to achieve certification for accommodation sector. It will enhance Sri Lanka’s reputation as a responsible tourism destination that travel-

Sri Lanka is promoting its culinary diversity

lers can explore while keeping their carbon footprint to a minimum. The country is already known for its eco-friendly tours, accommodation options and experiences that support local communities and economies. Sri Lanka’s long-term ambition is to be recognised as a leading island destination that offers visitors memorable, authentic and diverse experiences. It is also committed to long-term sustainable tourism development, which includes educating industry-related businesses to be environmentally and socially responsible across all facets of their operations. This will not only mitigate any negative impact that tourism might have but provide Sri Lanka with a competitive edge. Sussie Willett is a travel writer for Muslim lifestyle and travel magazine, Rihaal, and for halal-friendly Online Travel Agency, Rihaala.com

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Sri Lanka is a Premier Partner of the 40th edition of World Travel Market Visit Sri Lanka Tourism at AS200

Sri Lanka fights back We might be small, but we’re tough, says Sri Lanka’s Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife & Christian Religious Affairs, Hon. John Amaratung, discussing the island’s robust strategy for tourism industry recovery

What attributes define Sri Lanka as a leading tourism destination? Sri Lanka offers many incredible experiences and most of our guests feel that it’s our people that make their holidays exceptionally enjoyable and memorable. What has been the impact of the Easter security incident on tourism and what steps have been taken to get the destination back on track? We had a tourism fallout of 70%, but the government was swift to act and we immediately concentrated on looking after our own tourism businesses by granting moratoriums on loans and financial assistance packages. Safety and security aspects were prioritised; quite a lot was done behind the scenes. We looked at the region for immediate tourism recovery and launched special promotions in India, China and Thailand, which helped a lot. When travel advisories were softened,

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we began a major promotional drive, which spanned global advertising, tour operator marketing support schemes, and trade and consumer promotions. In addition, we took the decision to reduce aircraft landing fees, fuel charges and embarkation taxes. Most importantly, a visa fee waiver was granted for citizens of more than 48 countries. All these initiatives have brought the tourism industry back on track. Which markets are delivering tourism arrivals growth to Sri Lanka and why? Our neighbour, India, is the largest tourism source market for us now, due to its proximity and easy access, with a very short flight time. China, a new market that we have developed, is our second largest source of business, followed by the UK, which has been a very strong market for us since the inception of Sri

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry at a glance (2018)

2.3mn 11days 90k 600k $4.3bn arrivals, +10.3% y-o-y

average stay

rooms

people employed

generated revenue (US$)

ASIA Sri Lanka is home to the world's largest concentration of leopards

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Sri Lanka offers many incredible experiences and most of our guests feel that it’s our people that make their holidays exceptionally enjoyable and memorable”

Lanka tourism. Western Europe generates the majority of arrivals. Overall, out top ten markets bring almost 70% of arrivals. The Australian market has proven resilient, all other existing markets are holding well for us as we have a healthy mix of first-timers and repeat visitors. In terms of the demand, we are seeing growth for family holidays, wildlife and nature, wedding and honeymoons, wellness and spas, MICE and for adventure and water sports. What is your strategy for tourism growth? We are concentrating on regaining arrivals

and achieving previous growth rates. At the same time, we have launched a very ambitious plan to make tourism Sri Lanka’s leading industry. Right now, it’s the country’s third-largest economic sector. We will be consolidating mature source markets and developing new ones, as well as expanding our tourism offering. Delivering more tourism spend to local communities is another priority. How are you educating the industry and travellers about Sri Lanka’s tourism offering – and its safety status? Confidence building within the travel trade started immediately after the Easter incident

Charmarie Maelge, Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), on WTM’s major role in promoting the destination to the world

“As WTM celebrates 40 years, Sri Lanka Tourism is celebrating 55 years of tourism, and we have exhibited at the show every single year. We have not missed a single event. This year we are the Premier Partner of the WTM, recognising the great value and quick returns that this partnership can deliver, particularly the huge PR opportunities. WTM is definitely the correct platform to take Sri Lanka to the world. This year we will be showcasing resilient and strong Sri Lanka and our vibrant, diverse product offering, tapping into opportunities to attract new business. WTM has always met our expectations and together with more than 150 Sri Lankan participants at our stand, I congratulate the event on 40 years of success.”

We launched a ‘seeing is believing’ fact-finding programme for the trade, inviting them to visit and see that it was ‘business is usual’. As a result, they were quick to start promoting the destination. We are fortunate to have an army of travel writers who are passionate about the country and they have been telling the world why people need to visit Sri Lanka to experience this beautiful country. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has also worked closely with other bloggers and influencers who have been taken around the country to help promote ‘off-the-beatentrack’ destinations. This has helped give millions of holidaymakers the opportunity to discover what the destination really has to offer. What’s new in Sri Lanka this year? Two landmark projects have been completed this year – Lotus Tower in Colombo, which is Asia’s tallest tower and a must-visit and Jaffna International Airport, which will benefit the region and the people of Jaffna tremendously. In addition to new developments, underdeveloped, pristine and remote areas of outstanding natural beauty are also putting Sri Lanka on the ‘must visit’ map. What are your long-term targets for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry? Our priority is to seize every opportunity that tourism delivers to help our economy. We want to attract tourists and most importantly, high-revenue guests to all regions, not just cities and resorts, which will create more employment across the entire country. We will be working to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Sri Lanka to expand our room inventory, build new attractions and develop infrastructure. We are a small island and so we will be very sensitive to adding capacity, placing the onus on environmental and social sustainability. Tell us something we don’t know about Sri Lanka. We have the 8th Wonder of the World – the monolithic rock of Sigiriya – biodiversity hotspots like no other country, the largest sea and land mammals and one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys. Our little island also has more than 5,800 wild elephants and the largest concentration of leopards in the world.

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Taiw wan hass a lot to offf err, f rom m stu unn ning g pess landscap and d delicioous f ood to many trad dittion ns and d in parr ticculaar, warrm an nd f rieend dly peoople...wee possseess a c om mbinaatioon o f A siia’ss moss t beaauttifu ul chaaraacteeriss ticc s”” Dr. Joe. Y Chou, Directt or Genee ral, Taiw w an Too urism Bureauu

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Let’s talk Taiwan Dr. Joe Y. Chou, Director General, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, explains why the destination should be on every traveller’s bucket list

n 2018, Taiwan attracted more than 11 million visitors from all over the world, compared to 10.7 million in 2017 and reflecting a long-term upward trend in tourism volume growth. “According to research conducted with incoming tourists, their satisfaction rate is high; and so too is their intention to re-visit Taiwan,” says Dr. Joe Y. Chou (Ph.D.), Director General, Taiwan Tourism Bureau. “We can see more people have Taiwan in mind as a desired travel destination and that more travel agents are recommending Taiwan to their clients.” In 2019, the bureau is confident tourism arrivals growth will exceed expectations as traveller and industry awareness of Taiwan’s unique destination offering continues to improve. Major source markets delivering the largest growth in tourism numbers

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Left: Taipei at night Right: Paper umbrellas

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Ajman appeals to include north-east and south-east Asia, China, the US, Europe and Russia. tourists of xyxyxyxyyx The UK dominates the European market, xyxyxyyx alltourists ages and delivering 71,000 to Taiwan last year, followed by Germany (65,330), while nationalities, Russian arrivals crossed the 10,00 mark for the first time. from those “Taiwan has a lot to offer, from stunning landscapes andseeking delicious food toa many traditions and in particular, warm and friendly luxury beach people,” explains Chou. “We possess a combination of Asia’s holiday to most beautiful characteristics, as well as excellent tourism infrastructure. Travellers those with who visit Taiwan and share their positive afriends love experiences with and of family are delivering more tourism to our island country shopping or every year.” Taiwan is a cultural melting pot influenced culture and by the Dutch, Japanese and Chinese, heritage” as the country was occupied by all three

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countries in the past. “We also have 16 Aboriginal tribes on our small island and even the Maoris in New Zealand can trace back their roots to Taiwan,” reveals Chou. “As you would expect, our cuisine is a reflection of our rich and colourful history and includes Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese and more.” VILLAGE PEOPLE For visitors looking to delve into Taiwan’s unique culture, the island’s villages are a great starting point. For this reason, the bureau declared 2019 the ‘Small Town Roaming Year’. “This initiative focuses on Taiwanese culture and provides insight into every day Taiwanese life,” explains Chou. “Moreover, it promotes our villages and shows people the real Taiwan.” For example, visitors to Lukang Village can explore the Lukang TeinHu Temple,

Mountainous Central Taiwan

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Taiwan has a lot to offer, from stunning landscapes and delicious food to many traditions and in particular, warm and friendly people”

home to fine sculpture, local religion, and authentic food. For an ‘agritourism’ experience, travellers can buy fresh vegetables from the local farmer’s market or freshly caught fish from the pier and then go on to take part in a cooking class where they are taught how to create local dishes using those ingredients. “We have sent many guests to Taiwan to experience the charm of the island's small townships and the feedback has been outstanding,” says Chou. CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN Taiwan’s natural assets are a big draw card and earlier this year the famous nine-curve tunnel in Taroko Gorge was re-opened following a 10-year maintenance programme. The gorge not only showcases magnificent marble rock but is a scenic hotspot with views of eastern Taiwan that span at least 5km. The 19-km area, part of Taroko Gorge

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National Park, features canyon cliffs of 100-plus metres. Taiwan might be a small island, but it is home to more than 300 spectacular mountains, some of which are more than 3,000 metres high. These stunning mountain ranges already attract intrepid climbers, but in a bid to broaden their appeal, the bureau has named 2020 the ‘Year of Mountain tourism’. This campaign pitches Taiwan as a global mountaineering tourism destination and includes a programme of enhancements, with five classic mountaineering routes and seven tourism routes already mapped out, taking into considering ecology, culture and market demand. “Visitors have a spectacular view when climbing up to the peaks,” says Chou. “They can hike for one, two or more days, climbing small mountains or more challenging peaks and our climate is a major advantage. Snow is rare in Taiwan and the views are green all year round.” Taiwan has nine national parks, 13 national scenic areas, each with its own unique features and is also a paradise for butterfly and bird watchers. The island is home to more than 400 butterfly species, 50 of which are unique to the country. Aside from its status as a mountaineering hotspot, cycling tourism has taken off in Taiwan in recent years, with many scenic, eco-friendly and fun cycling paths appearing everywhere as part of a plan to link up the entire country with an island track network totaling 5,000km. SPREADING THE WORD Despite the plethora of unique experiences Taiwan has to offer travellers, many consumers and travel professionals remain unaware of the destination and its attributes. In addition to its diversity, the country is also highly accessible, with daily direct flights operated from cities across Europe including London, Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna and Frankfurt. It’s just a 90-minute hop from Hong Kong, with flights departing every 15 minutes, and the Tokyo to Taipei flight time of three hours demonstrates how easy it is to pop to the island when visiting Asia. Chou says Taiwan should be on everyone’s bucket list. “As an island country in Asia, many people still do not know Taiwan and what it has

Jiufen: a mountain town east of Taipei

TAIWAN FAST FACTS

3hrs 15k 13 The time it takes to travel from Taiwan's mountains to its beaches

The number of registered temples in Taiwan

The number of national scenic areas

to offer as a travel destination,” he says. “It is crucial we make more people aware of why they should visit.” He adds: “It is a country blessed with the gift of natural tourism resources and diversity of culture, food and landscapes; Taiwan is a must-visit destination for all.”

3,952ft

The height of the tallest mountain in Taiwan

400

Butterfly species have made Taiwan their home

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TAIPEI Taipei in northern Taiwan is the island’s capital, as well as its economic, political and cultural centre. It is a cosmopolitan metropolis where old meets new, inviting travellers to experience a world of fascinating contrasts, from the world's former tallest building, Taipei 101, to the biggest collection of Chinese art at the National Palace Museum. Foodies can sample the best regional Chinese cuisine at world-class restaurants or head to the night markets for scrumptious and authentic evening snacks, while trails and parks provide pockets of peace and tranquility in this vibrant city. Head out of town and natural hot springs await in the lush mountain foothills of the Taipei Basin. Don’t miss: • Raohe Night Market • Taipei 101 • National Palace Museum • Lungshan Temple (pictured) • Hot springs in the foothills

SUN MOON LAKE Taiwan’s largest lake, Sun Moon Lake, is located in the mountains of Nantou in the centre of the island and is one of the country’s National Scenic Areas. Its name is inspired by the area’s beauty; the east side of the lake is round, like the sun, while the west side is long and narrow, like a crescent moon. The aboriginal Thao tribe lives around the lake and in the centre, a small island called Lalu is reserved for aboriginal religious practices. Sun Moon Lake features the only full-range 3D tours (lake, sky and land) in Taiwan. The lake cycling trail has been recognised as one of the most beautiful cycling trails in the world. Top scenic spots in the lake area include Wenwu Temple, Cien Pagoda, Lalu Island, Syuentzang Temple, Xian Mountain, Yongjie Bridge, Tongxin Bridge, Christian Church, Meihe Garden, Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village and Snake Kiln. Don’t miss: • Sunrise at Jinlong Mountain • One of the 14 lake trails • The butterflies in the Puli region • The many temples around the lake • Swimming, fireworks and fireflies festivals

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TAROKO GORGE NATIONAL PARK Taroko National Park, situated in the eastern part of Taiwan and established on November 28, 1986, covers more than 92,000 hectares in the northern section of the Central Mountain Range. This park features high mountains and sheer gorges with many peaks towering above 3,000 metres. The spectacular Taroko Gorge and the scenic beauty of Liwu River can be viewed from the Central Cross-Island Highway. The varied mountain peaks, numerous waterfalls, diverse plant forms and animal life, together with the indigenous Taroko people, create the rich texture of this unique natural ecosystem. Don’t miss: • The Bell Tower above Eternal Springs Shrine • Shallow Grotto • Water Curtain Cave • Chingshui Cliff • Chingxi Suspension Bridge

ALISHAN Alishan is a National Scenic Area that lies east of Chiayi in the middle of Taiwan. The area was originally settled by aboriginal tribes and the Japanese used the mountain’s lush forests for a rail system still visible today. Its biggest claim to fame is its sunrise. Travellers are encouraged to head to the area’s highest peaks to catch the sun rising from a sea of clouds. For those who don’t want to travel by foot, the Alishan train takes you to the top of Chushan to the sunrise trail. Tea tourism is also big in Alishan and the Giant Tree Trail is one of its greatest natural wonders. Remnants of Japanese occupation, from temples to the Tree Spirit Pagoda, can be found along the way. Don’t miss: • Danayigu Ecological Park • Yuyupus in tea ﬁelds 1,300 metres above sea level • The Cherry Blossom Festival • Alishan Forest Railway • A sip of Alishan coffee grown in the mountains

KENTING NATIONAL PARK Kenting National Park occupies the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan. It’s known for its white-sand beaches, caves, coral reefs and northern mountains. The park’s main resort, Kenting Town, is home to restaurants, street-food stalls, bars and nightlife. The Frog Rock outcrop and the jagged 318-metre Dajianshan peak overlook the resort. The destination gained notoriety as the setting for Ang Lee’s Life of Pi in 2012 and is a hotspot for swimming, surﬁng, snorkelling, diving, hiking and a little nightlife all-year round, thanks to temperatures that range from 21°C in winter to 38°C in summer. Don’t miss: • The spectacular sand formats at Fongchueisha • The quiet bay of Baisha with pure white sand • Kenting Forest Recreation Area tour • The burning shale at Chuhuo • Lungluan Lake - a nature spot for birdlovers

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Natturral attrracc tioonss includ de boaatin ng on on ne o f our s tunn ning g laakees, going g on na junglee saafaari, t ak k ing g a caablee c arr ride to a hilltop p resoort orr embarkiing on n an aeriaal toourr off the mountaainss and d view win ng the in ncreediiblee pan norram ma of thee Him mallayas froom the aiirâ&#x20AC;? Deepak R aj Joss hi, CEO O , Nepal Tourism m Boarr d

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Mountain high Known as one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier adventure tourism destinations, Nepal is actively diversifying its offering, explains Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board

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What defines Nepal's destination offering? We have the world’s highest mountains, exotic festivals and are renowned for our hospitality. We are known as the Land of Mt. Everest and the Birthplace of Lord Buddha. To Western travellers, visiting Nepal is an enriching and enlightening experience. Which markets are delivering the strongest tourism arrivals growth to Nepal and why? Our fastest-growing source markets in 2018 were India, China, USA, Sri Lanka and UK. This trend has largely continued in 2019. The USA and UK consistently rank among our most important source markets. The UK in particular is a high-value market for Nepal; we have a shared history together with the early British explorers being among the first to visit Nepal in the early 20th century. Nepal also recently celebrated 200 years of bilateral relations with UK. The increase in the number of arrivals from India and China can also be attributed to their growing outbound tourism markets, fast-growing economies, geographical proximity, and improving transport connections. Similarly, our Buddhist heritage and increasing connectivity have led to a surge in arrivals from Sri Lanka.

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We are known as the Land of Mt. Everest and the Birthplace of Lord Buddha”

What are your target markets for growth now and in the future? Our goal is to welcome two million visitors in 2020, and to double that figure by the end of the following decade. For now, our focus is on boosting arrivals xyxyxyxyyx from xyxyxyyx India and China, as well as key source countries including the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, and Australia. We will also be focusing on countries with large Buddhist populations like Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and South Korea. Nepal offers visitors many meaningful and authentic experiences. In line with this, we are focusing on promoting sustainable tourism initiatives.

Ajman appeals to tourists of all ages and nationalities, from those seeking a luxury beach holiday to How are you educating the international those withtravel industry – and consumers – about Nepal’s tourism offering?a love of Participating at major travel trade events and shopping or conducting sales missions and roadshows in key markets isculture vital to promoting Nepal to and a global audience. heritage”

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The future, of course, lies in digital marketing. There has been a major shift in the tourism industry towards online communication – we have all seen the power of positive stories and real-time user-generated content. Therefore, our strategy aims to strengthen Nepal’s digital presence. Our mission for the near future is to create a holistic promotional plan for deeper reach in the global travel industry. What’s new in Nepal this year? The Government of Nepal has made substantial investments in the development of new tourism infrastructure including upgrading Tribhuvan International Airport, completing the new Bhairahawa International Airport, and conducting feasibility studies for airports in Pokhara and Nijgadh. Similarly, investments have been made

Total visitor arrivals 2018

1.17mn 2017:

940,218

UK Arrivals 2018

63,466 2017:

51,058

Reasons for visiting (2018) Holiday/leisure: 60% Trekking/mountaineering: 16% Pilgrimage: 14.4% Other: 9.6%

Around 16% of visitors to Nepal are trekking or mountaineering

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in the development of new roads, improving trekking routes, and constructing new accommodation offerings and hospitality services. We are also aiming to improve our offerings for trekkers through new cultural interactions and engagements. We recently added 100 new destinations to Visit Nepal 2020, and further information about these destinations will be available online soon. These destinations will appeal to repeat visitors and cultural purists seeking alternate tourism experiences. What are your long-term targets for Nepal’s tourism industry? We are focusing on sustainable development through the promotion of responsible tourism. As the tourism industry is one of the main pillars of Nepal’s economy, the Government of Nepal has prioritised its development for the prosperity and happiness of the Nepalese people. Tourism in Nepal creates employment opportunities and generates income for all Nepalese. We are working towards reaching our tourism goals by promoting Nepal across various marketing channels. Similarly, there has been intense promotion of sustainable tourism development on the home front. Tell us about the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign As previously mentioned, Nepal is looking forward to welcoming two million visitors in 2020. To achieve this, we will be conducting major promotional activities across digital and traditional media channels. We will also be organising special events and developing customised experiences for visitors from key source markets.

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We are focusing on sustainable development through the promotion of responsible tourism”

Pokhara is an up-and-coming destination

NEPALESE TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS TRANSPORT: New international airport at Bhairahawa near Lumbini, and regional airport in Pokhara. Feasibility studies ongoing for another international airport in Nijgadh. UPCOMING DESTINATIONS: Ilam and surrounding areas in the eastern Himalayan region; Janakpur – the center of Maithili culture and believed to the birthplace of Sita of the Ramanaya fame in the eastern Terai region; Tamang Heritage Trail in Langtang in the central Himalayan region; Mardi Himal Trek in Gandaki region; Kapilvastu and the Buddhist Heritage Trail in the western Terai region; Jumla to Rara in Karnali region. 100 new destinations have been identiﬁed and announced for Visit Nepal 2020. NEW ATTRACTIONS: Chandragiri cable car ride in Kathmandu; Accessible Trail on the Annapurna Circuit; Bandipur – a traditional Newari town on a hilltop between Pokhara and Kathmandu; wildlife experience in Bardiya; wildlife and birdwatching in Koshi Tappu; mid-hill landscape and culture in Palpa; Chepang Heritage Trail in Chitwan. Above: Tsum Valley

Right: Nepal is renowned for its hospitality and friendly people

What would surprise the WTM audience to learn about Nepal? Nepal is recognised as one of the world’s top adventure destinations. However, luxury holidays are also very much an option here. We offer luxury packages in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini and other destinations. Nepal has numerous lavish hotels and resorts offering sumptuous experiences. City-based activities range from tours to dining on local cuisine, taking in cultural shows, visiting casinos, enjoying herbal massages at a local spa or going clubbing or golfing. Natural attractions include boating on one of our stunning lakes, going on a jungle safari, taking a cable car ride to a hilltop resort, or embarking on an aerial tour of the mountains and viewing the incredible panorama of the Himalayas from the air. These are just a few of the luxury activities on offer. We are keen to welcome more travellers seeking luxury experiences.

What role does WTM play as a platform for promoting Nepal to the world? Nepal has been participating at World Travel Market for a number of decades now. The event provides one of the best platforms for promoting Nepal as a global tourism destination and for connecting with tour operators and trade partners from this region. As previously mentioned, the UK is a very important source market for Nepal.

Many British travellers visit Nepal for adventure, with the average length of stay being 22 days. In 2018, 63,466 Brits visited Nepal, marking a year-on-year rise of 19.5%, while the UK accounted for 5.41% of the total figure of 1,173,072 arrivals last year. We are now keen to focus on other sectors of the UK market as we look to meet our goal of two million visitors as part of Visit Nepal 2020.

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We haavee exp pan ndeed A naantt arra’ss preeseencc e world dwidee too c ossmop politan n citiiess, lush h islaand ds,, deeseertt san ndss, herritaagee dess tin nattions,, uncchaartted beaach hess and c on n teemp porrayy r essorr ts”” Dillip Raa jakarier, CEO O , Minorr Hotelss

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Major expansion for Minor Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotels

Tell us about Minor Hotels Minor Hotels is a hotel owner, operator and investor with an ever-growing portfolio of 536 hotels and resorts in 54 countries across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean. The group drives its growth through a portfolio of eight in-house hotel brands, as well as a collection of related hospitality businesses and strategic partnerships with other leading hotel brands worldwide. Each brand possesses its own distinctive personality and contributes in a unique way to Minor Hotels’ growth objectives. What has the company achieved in 2019? 2019 has been a momentous year for Minor Hotels. Highlights have included the acquisition of renowned Spanish hotelier, NH Hotel Group; the launch of Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort, FCC Angkor by Avani and Oaks Beirut; and important signings in Thailand and Vietnam, all of which has significantly grown our portfolio of properties. Anantara is a globally renowned luxury hotel, resort and spa brand – what steps are you taking to grow its global footprint? Minor Hotels’ core luxury brand, Anantara, now lends its name to 39 hotels and resorts in 15 diverse locations across the Middle East, Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa and

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Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotels, maps out the global hospitality group’s network expansion across its portfolio of diverse brands, with significant development gains achieved in 2019

Europe. We have expanded Anantara's presence worldwide to cosmopolitan cities, lush islands, desert sands, heritage destinations, uncharted beaches and contemporary resorts. With recent brand debuts in Mauritius, Tunisia and Malaysia and exciting refurbishments in the Maldives, Anantara is consolidating its presence in Asia and taking further bold steps into Africa and the Indian Ocean. What new Anantara properties have opened and where? In 2019, Minor Hotels opened the first Anantara hotel in Spain after signing a management agreement with the Villa Padierna Group. Located in the Costa del Sol’s Golf Valley, Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort is designed by British architect, Ed Gilbert, and is the second Anantara in Europe. We also partnered with Currimjee Jeewanjee & Co. to launch a new luxury resort on the south-east coast of Mauritius in September. Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort and Villas is part of an integrated coastal development and incorporates sustainability initiatives such as solar technology and recycled materials.

We have made strong headway in North Africa too having partnered with Qatar Diar Real Estate Company to launch Anantara Tozeur Resort by the end of the year. Perfectly located in the idyllic surroundings of Tozeur in Southwest Tunisia, it is the first five-star hotel in the region. Malaysia is another exciting destination for Anantara and next month (December 2019), we will open the doors to Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, part of the exciting new integrated development on the southern tip of Malaysia – less than two hours’ drive from Singapore where 3,900 acres of lush terrain border 17km of pristine beach. Perfect for family vacations and corporate retreats, the development is launched in partnership with Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels (TAR&H), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad. The industry is less familiar about the Elewana Collection – what are its USPs? Elewana Collection, named after the Swahili word meaning ‘harmony’, comprises 16 boutique lodges, camps and hotels in iconic locations across Kenya and Tanzania, each

Top: Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort Above: Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs

of which has been carefully selected for its unique accommodation and iconic location to provide unparalleled African wildlife-viewing and beach holiday opportunities, with an emphasis on style, comfort and conservation. Elewana Collection crafts memorable African safari experiences that

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NH Hotels is making its mark in Europe with the upcoming launch of nhow London in the city's trendy Shoreditch district”

NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali

offer the highest quality of luxury and comfort, embodying the balance between people, wildlife and environment that today’s sophisticated travellers have come to expect. What’s new for the collection? A new tented property joins Elewana’s two award-winning luxury camps, the Loisaba Tented Camp and Loisaba Star Beds, in Loisaba Conservancy in Kenya. Designed by renowned architects Chris Payne and Jan Allen, with landscape architecture by Jo Silvester, Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs offers an ultra-private experience. Just eight spacious tented rooms appeal to the discerning traveller who has come to expect responsible conservation practices without forgoing luxury. Loisaba is a 57,000-acre wildlife conservancy and working ranch in Northern Kenya, home to several critically endangered large mammals. Elewana and The Nature Conservancy partnered with Loisaba Conservancy to create Elewana Lodo Springs, ensuring optimal standards of conservation, local jobs, and wildlife and habitat protection.

the brand are well on track with 2019 welcoming a total of seven new properties across Australia, Indonesia and South Korea. Late 2018 saw the launch of Avani+ Samui Resort, an upscale resort situated on Phang Ka Bay on Koh Samui’s south-western shore, while in June this year, the brand entered the Cambodian market for the first time with the launch of FCC Angkor by Avani. Following an extensive renovation, the property introduces 80 newly refurbished classic-colonial rooms and suites. With Angkor Wat, the internationally renowned UNESCO World Heritage site, just 10 minutes from the hotel, FCC Angkor by Avani is already a home for intrepid travellers seeking an authentic experience of Siem Reap. Dubai remains a development hotspot and in late 2019, we will open Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel in partnership with UAE master developer Nakheel. The 372-key property is located adjacent to the recently opened Ibn Battuta Metro Link, which is directly connected to the popular Ibn Battuta Mall.

Avani is rapidly expanding too – what markets are you targeting and why? The Avani portfolio comprises 27 properties worldwide with 15 new hotels in the pipeline, including recent signings in Vietnam and Thailand. Avani is one of the fastest growing brands to come out of Asia and our expansion plans for

What other openings and developments will round-off Minor Hotels’ stellar year? NH Hotels is making its mark in Europe with the upcoming launch of nhow London in the city’s trendy Shoreditch district. Set to open in late 2019/early 2020, it is part of the ‘250 City Road’ development, designed by Sir Norman

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ANANTARA UPDATE 1

Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort, Spain • 123 guest rooms and suites • 9 luxurious one- and two-bedroom villas with a dedicated butler service and private swimming pools • Nestled between three award-winning golf courses • Situated on the Andalusian coast between Marbella and Puerto Banus • World-class spa facilities • Mediterranean and Asian gastronomy

AVANI UPDATE 5 Avani+ Samui Resort,

Thailand

• 58 chic rooms and pool and beachfront villas

• Beach yoga, stand-up paddle-boarding, snorkelling, island hopping and mountain biking on offer • Essence Thai and international restaurant 2

Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort and Villas, Indian Ocean • 165 rooms and suites • Multiple dining options • 30-metre ozone-based swimming pool • Signature Anantara Spa • Part of an integrated coastal development • 15 minutes from the international airport 3

Anantara Tozeur Resort, Tunisia • 93 luxurious guestrooms and villas, including pool villas • Meetings and business facilities • An all-day dining restaurant • Kids’ club • Anantara Spa with a hammam • Excursions to: - 14th century medina - Remote villages - Film set of the original Star Wars movie 4

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, Malaysia • 123 guestrooms and beachfront villas • Ocean-view dining • Extensive events facilities • Two swimming pools • Fitness centre • Kids’ and teens’ clubs • Anantara Spa • Within walking distance of Desaru’s retail village and waterpark • Close to the Els Club Desaru Coast golf course

Foster’s acclaimed architectural firm Foster + Partners under the theme ‘London Reloaded’, combining traditional British icons with unconventional contemporary elements. Architect James Soane, co-director of the London-based Project Orange interiors studio, is responsible for the property’s interior design. This follows the successful opening of the NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali, which boasts a stunning location, overlooking some of Rome’s most prized archaeological and architectural treasures, including the Roman Forum and the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. We also recently launched NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market in The Netherlands, which is another design-orientated property that takes inspiration from the city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere, its lively flower market and the nearby colourful flower fields. The Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites brand continues to go from strength to strength too, with more than 60 properties in Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, India, Qatar, and most recently, Lebanon, where we opened Oaks Beirut in partnership with Allied Investment Group in September. An industry leader in modern residential-style accommodation, Oaks provides a home away from home for corporate and leisure travellers and is known for high standards of amenities and services, quality and affordability. Every Oaks property prides itself on connecting the visitor to the spirit of its locale.

FCC Angkor by Avani, Cambodia • 80 classic-colonial style rooms and suites • 10 minutes from Angkor Wat • 2 restaurants serving authentic Khmer and Asian cuisine Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel, United Arab Emirates • 372 keys • Adjacent to Ibn Battuta Metro Link and Ibn Battuta Mall • Pool, spa, gym • All-day dining restaurant and coffee shop

NH HOTELS UPDATE nhow London • Located in ‘250 City Road’ development • 190 rooms • Restaurant and bar • Gym • Networking spaces and meeting rooms 6 NH Collection Roma Fori

Imperiali

• 42 contemporary and luxurious rooms

• Roman Forum and Vittorio Emanuele II Monument views

• Stunning rooftop bar with 300sqm terrace NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market • 233 rooms • Distinctive 1920s building • Unique interior design

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T he US c on t inue s t o be the large stt trravel e c onomy in n t h e wo r ld reegis tering 2 .2 % gr ow th laas t year. Th he se cttor cr eate s jobs, drivves ex por t s and gen nerates pr osperityy. I t iss in tegraal to th he c oun tr y'ss b r o ad e r e c onomicc p e r f o rmanc e and mu s t b e priooritisedâ&#x20AC;? Gloo riaa G u e varaa , Pree s idee nt & C E O, Woo rldd Tr avv el & Tourr i s m Coo u ncc ill (W W TTT C))

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Iconic cities, cultural melting pots, towering forests, red-rock deserts and food glorious food â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in abundance

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SPOTLIGHT ON…

Manitoba, Canada

Named the top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet A diverse prairie province with a multicultural ﬂavour and fascinating wildlife where visitors can see polar bears and the Northern Lights in Churchill.

NORTH AMERICA LEADS AMERICAS TOURISM GROWTH The Americas welcomed

217mn

international arrivals in 2018, with mixed results across destinations Growth was led by North America

+4%

NORTH AMERICA

US$11.9tn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

8.2%

of whole economy GDP UNITED STATES Largest contribution to global travel and tourism GDP in 2018, worth

US$1,595bn 2.2%

tourism GDP growth NEW YORK

7th

most visited city globally in 2018

13.6mn visitors

Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Mastercard, Lonely Planet

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L atin n A mericc a has alll the ne c e s s ar y eleemen t s to becc ome an aviaatioon suc c ess s toor y: c ompe tittive and e f fiicien t airliines, a gr ow ing mid ddle claass, f av o u r a b l e demographicc s and a ge ography th hat ne c e ssi taates travvel by air”” P e terr Cee rdd á , R e gii onaa l Vii ce Press ident A m err icaa s, I ntee r naa tioo nal A ir Traa nspoo rt A s soo ciatioo n (IA ATA A)

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LATIN AMERICA 40 years of WTM London 179

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Andean peaks, Amazonian rainforest, Patagonian glaciers, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white-sand beaches and dizzying nightlife

Latin America SPOTLIGHT ON…

Cusco, Peru

Voted one of 25 top destinations in the world by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Awards

Incan majesty and Andean baroque exist side-by-side in Cusco's stone streets, epitomised by the Qoriacancha palace and the church of Santo Domingo ﬂanking the Plaza de Armas. In this high-altitude melting pot of Amerindian and mestizo culture, travellers ﬁnd extraordinary textiles, lively summer festivals and archaeological wonders.

Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Mastercard, EBD

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SOUTH AMERICA TAKES LATIN LEADERSHIP The Americas welcomed

217mn

international arrivals in 2018, with mixed results across destinations. South America was the strongest performing region in Latin America with 3% growth

LATIN AMERICA

US$336bn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

8.7%

of whole economy GDP MEXICO

10th

largest contribution to global travel and tourism GDP in 2018, worth

US$209bn 2.4%

tourism GDP growth BRAZIL

12th

largest contribution to global travel and tourism GDP in 2018 Worth

US$153bn 3.1%

tourism GDP growth

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We c ommen nd thee tourissm leaadeerss in n Afrricc a who aree helping g too booos t c onn ne c tivvityy, proomotte traaveel f accilitaatioon and ensure traaveelleer saafett y – all off thesse meassurr es mak ke f orr supr emee groow th h” Gloriaa Guevaa raa , Pree sid d entt & CEO O, World Travell & Tourism m Coo uncil (WTTC C)

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AFRICA 40 years of WTM London 183

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A wildlife bonanza, wild landscapes and ancient traditions

Africa

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AFRICA

AFRICA TOURISM SPEND 2018

67mn

56% domestic 44% international 71% leisure 29% business

international tourist arrivals in 2018

US$194bn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

8.5%

of whole economy GDP

MOROCCO & SOUTH AFRICA TOP ARRIVALS LEADER BOARD Morocco was Africa’s top-performing tourism destination in 2018 with

11mn arrivals

South Africa was a close second with 10mn arrivals

EGYPT BOUNCES BACK Egypt’s tourism sector has demonstrated considerable resilience, growing by 16.5% in 2018 with international visitor spending accounting for 27.3% of exports. This follows huge safety improvements implemented, particularly in key destinations such as Sharm El-Sheikh, helping to entice international tourists back to the northern coast.

SPOTLIGHT ON…

Ethiopia

The world’s fastest-growing travel economy

48.6%

growth in 2018 worth

US$7.4bn International travel & tourism spending contributed

61%

of exports in the country last year. This stunning growth can be attributed, in part, to Ethiopia’s improved connectivity as a regional transport hub and to recent visa relaxation policies, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

TRAVEL & TOURISM IN AFRICA IS BOOMING

5.6%

growth in 2018 compared to global average of 3.9% and the broader African economy rate of 3.2% Second-fastest growing tourism region (after Asia-Paciﬁc) Contributed

US$194.2bn to the region’s economy

8.5%

of the continent’s GDP

24.3mn

African jobs, or 6.7% of total employment. Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Jumia

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AUSTRALASIA 40 years of WTM London 187

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SPOTLIGHT ONâ&#x20AC;Ś

Tasmania

Voted trendiest destination in Oceania 2019 by top travel bloggers The often-forgotten island of Tasmania is a microcosm of the best of what Australia has to offer: perfect beaches, quirky and abundant wildlife, and endless opportunities for adventures, particularly if you like mountain biking.

Australasia Mountains, deserts, reefs, forests, beaches and multicultural cities galore

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ASIA & PACIFIC

343mn

international tourist arrivals in 2018

6% growth OCEANIA

US$206bn

Travel and tourism GDP contribution

12.2%

of whole economy GDP

growth in international tourist arrivals

AUSTRALIA

11th

largest contribution to global travel and tourism GDP in 2018, worth

US$154bn 3.2%

tourism GDP growth

10th

largest tourism origin market globally Top 3 destinations visited by Australians in 2018: • Bali • Singapore • New York

SYDNEY Ranked

17th

in top 20 destination cities by international overnight visitor spend worth

US$8bn in 2018

Sources: UNWTO, WTTC, Mastercard, TripAdvisor

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INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS 40 years of WTM London 191

What will the travel industry look like in another 40 years? Leading industry figureheads make their predictions for 2059

“The global travel industry is poised for major change over the next 40 years and WTM London will continue to champion and support its development. With the rise of social media and travel more accessible than ever before, global travellers will spend more on truly amazing holidays. Visiting the world’s most iconic locations is something that more people will aspire to do in their lives. However, they will be more conscious of the impact their travel plans have on the environment and the local community in the destinations they visit. WTM has thrown the spotlight on responsible tourism and sustainability over the last 15 years, with our Responsible Tourism conference sessions, World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) and the Responsible Tourism Awards driving the agenda. We expect a massive focus in this area over the next 40 years and will continue to showcase all of the advances in this important sector.”

Simon Press Senior Exhibition Director, World Travel Market

“Over the last 40 years, WTM London has been at the centre of the global travel industry. During this time, our event has grown immeasurably to a place where we now welcome more than 50,000 visitors, including almost 11,000 buyers and 5,000 exhibitors from 180-plus countries and regions. WTM London has been, and will continue to be, at the heart of major changes in the world of travel and tourism. Through the facilitating of global business deals, developing sustainable tourism practices and creating a new, altruistic environment for global travellers, over the next 40 years we will continue to be the show where ideas arrive.”

“The travel industry landscape will be very different in 40 years as AI will drastically change how we do things. Climate change will have a massive impact on our industry too as the opportunity to travel as extensively as some of us do now will be challenged, potentially curbing our travel desires and aspirations. Business travel will shrink as improved technology enables us to connect more effectively and companies are driven to be more efficient and contribute to saving the planet. People will be booking one to two years in advance to visit iconic destinations and attractions due to stricter controls and taking a trip in space will be an affordable, albeit a luxury experience.”

Nick Pilbeam

Fiona Jeffery

Divisional Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions

Former Chairman, World Travel Market

192 40 years of WTM London

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“Climate change and global economic growth and politics will have the biggest impact on the travel industry in the future. In boom times, we generally travel more, in hard times, we travel less. How world geo-politics will look in 2059 is anyone’s guess, but the continued emergence of China’s economy and its sheer population size will have an effect. I hope developments in aviation will mean people can enjoy clean, affordable travel that does not pollute the planet and I worry for those destinations for which Responsible Tourism was born. Will we destroy that which we have come to see?”

Craig Moyes former Exhibition Director, World Travel Market

“Sustainable flying is going to be a game changer for aviation and a key focus for the entire industry. We believe that flying is necessary to continue to connect our world, economies and people, but it cannot be done in the same way as the last 100 years. When we look at the future of flying, we must fly more sustainably. This will involve changes being made on the ground and in the air, such as how we prepare for a flight, what we load onto our aircraft, the type of food we offer, the seats we sit in and the fuel we use. There is no one solution to solving such a challenging and multi-faceted issue, so collaboration is key. At British Airways, sustainability drives most of our investment decisions. Our parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), became the first airline group worldwide to commit to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 and through numerous environmental initiatives, we are determined to play our part to reduce aviation’s environmental impact.”

Alex Cruz Chairman & CEO, British Airways

“The two major crises confronting our species are climate change and biodiversity loss. Tourism can contribute to addressing these issues and they will grow in importance in the Responsible Tourism programmes at WTM in London, Cape Town, Dubai and Sao Paulo. But there are many other issues that can be addressed by tourism – water, over-tourism, child protection, local economic development, responsible tour operating, sustainable hospitality, guiding, philanthropy, access for all, decent employment and waste. No doubt other issues will emerge where tourism can make a difference and the balance of the agenda will shift to include more on resilience and adaptation.”

Harold Goodwin WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor

“The tourism industry is fact paced with huge changes and challenges placed on us each year. The landscape could be unrecognisable in 40 years’ time, but one thing is for sure; tourists are becoming ever more selective about their holidays, and key words like ‘authentic experiences’ and ‘sustainability’ are likely to dominate”

Saeed Rashed Al Saeed Destination Marketing Director at DCT Abu Dhabi

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“We are pleased once again to be attending World Travel Market, an important industry event on our annual calendar, and particularly this year, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Dubai Tourism’s continued presence at WTM forms a core part of our efforts to drive innovation and deeper relationships across our key source markets as we adapt to the maturing demands of today’s global travellers to remain front-ofmind. As we look forward to the next 40 years, we will continue to strengthen our relationships with the global travel industry, explore new trends and leverage the power of innovative solutions and ongoing partnerships to redefine the customer journey and set a new benchmark for the future of travel.”

“

I see the travel industry being shaped by new and emerging traveller aspirations”

Issam Kazim CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM)

“As global travel becomes increasingly accessible, travellers are looking for unique experiences that broaden their horizons and reflect their increased awareness of the impact their lifestyle choices have on the natural environment. Facing increasing global visitor numbers, destinations will come under growing pressure to preserve the environments in which they operate through a mix of sustainable operations and initiatives to mitigate the effects of over-tourism. The emergence of new smart technologies that allow destinations to offer a diverse range of personalised experiences that are responsibly managed is one of the most exciting trends to watch in the coming decades.”

“I see the travel industry being shaped by new and emerging traveller aspirations and perhaps looking very different in 2059 compared to what it is today. The emerging economies of Asia, Africa and the Middle East are set to spearhead global growth. This will have a profound impact on the economic and social characteristics of the fastest-growing destinations. The impact of ‘over-tourism’ has been well documented. With global tourist numbers set to accelerate at an even faster rate, I see this becoming a bigger issue if nations don’t put in concerted efforts to diverse their offering and market new destinations attractively. For Sharjah and Shurooq, developing a tourism and hospitality portfolio covering all regions and attractions of the emirate, and putting all our offerings on an equal footing from a marketing perspective so no one destination suffers from over-tourism, has been the focus of our developmental efforts. This strategy, combined with our prime focus on ecotourism, is reaping many positive results.”

John Pagano

Ahmed Al Qaseer

CEO, The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC)

COO, Shurooq

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INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS

“

The travel landscape of the future will be AI driven, but there will be strong demand to experience Mother Nature at its best in destinations like Sri Lanka”

“Unless travel and tourism leaders find innovative ways to make the human element a focal point of the visitor experience, employment opportunities in the industry will diminish. It is therefore our responsibility as policy makers to work very hard to ensure the experiential journey of any tourist is one that involves empathy and human interaction so that regardless of advances in technology, people remain at the heart of this globally important economic sector.”

“There has been a paradigm shift in the travel industry over the past 10 years. Most travel bookings are made on mobile devices, last-minute bookings are the norm and travellers are seeking new destinations and more authentic and local experiences. Similarly, ecological and educational tours are in demand and destinations that encourage responsible and sustainable practices are looked at most positively. By 2059, responsible and sustainable tourism will be big; ethical and meaningful travel will be the focus. Challenges and opportunities are aplenty regarding how we cater to changing traveller preferences, but I am positive Nepal will keep pace with trends as a leading tourism destination.”

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat

Deepak Raj Joshi

Minister of Tourism, Egypt

CEO, Nepal Tourism Board

“Over the next 40 years, technology will take us to currently unknown paths and places, perhaps in aerospace. Nature’s creations will have the highest demand; everything natural and original will be sacred and celebrated. In this respect, Sri Lanka will be a ‘hotspot’ and a very precious asset to the entire world, as we will have conserved all of our natural flora, fauna and the biodiversity. Sri Lanka will remain an exotic destination that has done a great service to green the global environment. The travel landscape of the future will be AI driven, but there will be strong demand to experience Mother Nature at its best in destinations like Sri Lanka.”

Charmarie Maelge Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB)

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INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS

“Over the next 40 years, Asia will cement its position as one of the world’s leading inbound and outbound travel markets and new and exciting destinations will emerge as governments prioritise tourism development as a key driver of sustainable economic growth. Indonesia and its vast archipelago of islands will continue to grow in popularity with global travellers seeking an authentic and immersive experience based on nature, culture, history, great food and of course, wonderful beaches.”

“With climate change beyond the tipping point, airlines and cruise companies will be racing to establish the first fleet of carbon-neutral passenger craft. Tourism destinations will be focused on product diversification to maximise length of stay, as air travel will be so highly taxed. By 2059, the world’s leading coastal resorts will no longer be viable and high-speed rail will have become the primary mode of transport, unlocking potential everywhere. Generation Z disruptors will have monetised experiential community-led tourism, and tourism will be recognised as a key driver of post-crisis economic recovery, creating sustainable livelihoods and promoting gender equality.”

Benjamin Carey FTS Managing Director, Carey Tourism

Nia Niscaya Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia

“

The next 40 years will see increased demand for ethical and sustainable travel”

“The next 40 years will see increased demand for ethical and sustainable travel. The tourism and hospitality industry has the ability to make a substantial difference to the world and enable guests to partake too. International long-haul travel will be considered much more carefully and guests will expect to offset the impact of their stay and actively contribute to the host communities of the destinations they visit. Concurrently, the wellness industry will also grow as people seek respite from an ever more demanding digital world. Moreover, the launch of the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management, a joint partnership between Minor Hotels and Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, will open in September 2020. With two campuses in Thailand, I am confident that by 2059, it will be revered as the ‘go to’ institute for hospitality training in the world.”

Dillip Rajakarier CEO, Minor Hotels

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“

With climate change beyond the tipping point, airlines and cruise companies will be racing to establish the first fleet of carbon-neutral passenger craft”

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“The future for the Wales Coast Path as the world’s leading coastal hiking path will be very exciting, from immersive AR enhancing the visitor experience to thriving biodiversity along 870 miles of coast. The Welsh coastline, already one of Europe’s cleanest, will be 100% plastic free, and even more biodiverse. Over the next 40 years there will be greater emphasis on habitat restoration and creating a species-rich environment. Refill taps from nearby mineral springs will be found along the entire path, building on the sustainability work already happening. There will be even more routes accessible to all, and more opportunities to taste local and seasonal produce along the entire coast.”

Sioned Humphreys Representative, the Wales Coast Path

“Slovenia has worked extremely hard to become a world leader in sustainable tourism and we are already seeing this become a key priority for many other destinations around the globe. We believe that by 2059, alongside the radical transformations arising from advancement in technology, mass-market tourism will take full account of its social, economic and environmental impacts.”

Msc. Maja Pak Director General, Slovenian Tourist Board

“I see the tourism and transport sector leading the way in sustainable economies and environmental change. Here at AM+A we look forward to seeing the rise of technology, where a campaign can be linked to an imminent call to action, making an experience happen with a tap of your finger. We aim to use creativity to create experiences of a lifetime that are accessible from a few touches of a screen. AI will change the user booking experience completely. Booking mechanisms that respond to an advert or item of publicity which can be made into an instant bespoke booked holiday thanks to AI information on the individual and fin-technology.”

Frank Marr PRCA Travel and Tourism Chairman/MD, AM+A Marketing & Media Relations

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INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS

“The tourism industry has changed significantly over the last few years and this process will continue. Tourists will probably be even more independent in their choices, as well as more conscious of sustainability issues. Innovative marketing with the development of an infrastructure to support tourism will play a significant role. When it comes to Poland, we genuinely believe that the country will become one of the most loved destinations in Europe.”

Iwona Bialobrzycka Director, Polish Tourism Organisation

“

Tourists will probably be even more independent in their choices, as well as more conscious of sustainability issues”

“The Czech Republic has gone through a very long dynamic journey over the past 30 years since the Velvet Revolution and we believe the best is yet to come. In 40 years, the Czech cities beyond Prague and the regional gateways will be bustling with life, thanks to constantly improving infrastructure and the effort of local people to showcase their centuries-old traditions. Czech mountains and spa towns will be treasured as spotless jewels of nature and people will still get to enjoy their peaceful atmosphere to disconnect from the world.”

Katarína Hobbs Director, Czech Tourism, UK & Ireland

“In 2059, Somerset will still boast 800-year-old architecture and a gorge formed over 1.2 million years, but our relationship with customers will be vastly different. The digital world and big data will mean that we will be able to pinpoint our response to consumer demands. We will be able to refine our product offer in real time and utilise information to predict precise consumer demands and tastes. Customer service will have evolved even further, bringing a much closer and more understanding relationship with providers, the result being better quality of product and service; essential in a competitive world.”

John Turner MCIM CEO, Somerset Tourism Association

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A New Luxury Tourist Destination in Saudi Arabia Experience another side of the Red Sea. An exquisite destination on the Saudi coast, designed in perfect harmony with the environment. Embraced by thriving coral reefs. A home and a haven for a wealth of natural treasures. And a gateway to a fascinating, hospitable culture. Explore the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most ambitious and exciting tourism initiative.

40 Years of WTM London

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WTM London means responsible tourism

WTM London 2019 builds on 40 years of success