Signs of the Times: Is legendary travel show showing its age?
Review: The New York TImes Travel Show
The New York Times Travel Show has come and gone.
Is it just me or is it looking a little bald where Europe used to be?
Where was France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Britain, Spain? Tourism board heads spoke at a seminar, but the absence of floor presence in the European area was remarkable.
Sure, we all want to go to China, India, South America but surveys continue to rate old fashioned Grand Tour destinations like Paris, London, Rome, Venice, Lisbon, Dresden and Berlin as high on travelers’ lists and these places were conspicuous by their absence in the main part of the show–the booths where you can get a one-on-one feel for what’s new at that destination.
It seemed illustrative that right at the center of the show (which had its10th anniversary this year) near Europe’s very visible bald patch was a booth proffering 5 Hour Energy Drink. The image seemed to point to a level of exhaustion the industry has in keeping up old appearances in the face of new economic realities.
Have your say: What did you think of the New York Times Travel Show?
Add your comments below or tweet me @gretchenkelly or @travelmole.
Gretchen Kelly, Editor US/North America
Gretchen Kelly
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