New Vision from World Travel Market
Sunday, 18 May, 2009
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Travelmole Guest Comment by World Travel Market chairman Fiona Jeffery
In 1980, when World Travel Market first opened its doors to the global travel and tourism industry, the UK and the world was in the grip of economic volatility and about to embark on the worst post-war recession.
Fast forward to 2009 and World Travel Market is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Both the UK’s and the world’s economies are facing similar financial concerns to when WTM launched in 1980, although due to a completely different set of circumstances this time around.
Having launched World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, in an uncertain economical climate 30 years ago WTM has no fears in expanding its portfolio with its first summer conference WTM Vision (www.wtm-london.com/vision), which takes place on June 4 at 76 Portland Place, London.
The launch of both World Travel Market and WTM Vision during such financially uncertain times is a mere coincidence, however this backdrop gives WTM Vision a great opportunity to help the industry through such times.
WTM Vision’s aim is to share the knowledge and expertise WTM has built up over the past 30 years throughout the calendar year.
It’s my belief that in times of such economic uncertainty the travel industry not only appreciates but needs the opportunity to discuss and debate the challenges of the times within the context of the most up to date information.
That is exactly the aim of WTM Vision, which is revealing the latest data on the impact of the global recession on the travel and tourism industry. Euromonitor International’s Forecast Restatement uncovers the correlation between global GDP and its impact on tourism.
The historical lessons the industry can learn from previous crisis will help delegates plan the future of their organisations. The industry’s recovery time pattern is also unveiled in the Reforecast Restatement through the detailed analysis of previous crisis. This information will also prove a useful planning tool the travel industry as a whole.
The report will help to set the agenda of the half-day conference allowing the list of high-profile industry speakers, which includes; Co-operative Travel managing director Mike Greenacre, Carnival Group chief commercial officer Peter Shanks and World Travel and Tourism Council president and chief executive Jean-Claude Baumgarten, to debate with delegates how their organisations and the sector as a whole can respond to the current financial outlook.
Industry interest and delegate numbers show the sector’s hunger for such detailed information and in-depth debate. I look forward to the debate which WTM Vision will evoke.
Phil Davies
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