WTM 2003 declared a success
World Travel Market group exhibition director Fiona Jeffery has declared this year’s event a success, with visitor numbers increasing slightly to almost 45,000. The figure marks an increase of roughly 2.5% on last year’s event which attracted 43,803 delegates, exhibitors and media. Attendance by Meridian Club members was down 5% from 13,267 to 12,598 which the organisers said was “due to a stricter membership focus on quality international buyers with purchasing authority.” Overseas visitors increased by 6%, while there was a 9% rise in trade visitors according to non-audited figures. Ms Jeffery claimed: “Given the universal climate at present, these are exceptional figures.” She added: “No other event attracts the number of senior Industry professionals that gathered at ExCel last week. You only had to look around the halls and the Boulevard to see the volume of serious business being conducted and the amount of networking and catching up with old friends and contacts.” Ms Jeffery said delegates were now more familiar with ExCel, but that the organisers would continue to work to make “improvements where ever necessary for 2004.”
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt