review wtm latin america
Exhibitors keen to return T
his year’s WTM Latin America, held in Sao Paulo, attracted 600 exhibitors from fi ve
continents and a record 12,000 visits – 7% up on 2017. Luciane Leite, director of WTM Latin America, said: “We brought the world together during the three-day event, and this became clear to those who were circulating through the stands.” Among fi rst-time exhibitors were six hotels and hotel brands including Wyndham, Hotel Alfa Moscow and the Brazilian chain Luzeiros Hoteis. Many local operators have already shown an interest in returning for the 2019 event, among them R11, Grou, Travel Ace Intertouring, HotelDO, TT Operadora and ITA. Destinations that have already signalled involvement next year include Turkey, Ecuador, Chile
and Indonesia plus the towns of Parati in Rio de Janeiro State and Foz do Iguacu in Parana. Ecuador’s
EVENT REVIEW
Tourism Minister, Jose Luis Egas, commented: “As far as we
are concerned, our participation at the event
has been a great success. We want to come back and encourage the Brazilian market to visit the country. “The Brazilian market has enormous potential for Ecuador. Brazilians’ purchasing power is very attractive and we believe that Ecuador off ers an
excellent diversity in terms of culture, gastronomy and historical cities.” Danila Krasnov, Alfa Hotel Moscow’s
sales director (Russia), said his brand’s attention was now fi rmly on the Latin America region. “For Alpha Moscow it was important to take part in WTM. Our focus now is on Latin America, fi rst and foremost due to the signifi cant interest in Fifa. “Secondly, we want to increase our business in the region, particularly in Brazil and Argentina, and of course to increase our profi t. This event was excellent in that respect. The organisation was brilliant,” he added. An innovation this year was changes to the Speed Networking event, which for the fi rst time was spread over fi ve sessions, with a total of more than 12,000 meetings.
Great results for Palestine P
alestine was among the repeat exhibitors at this year’s WTM Latin America, following its debut in 2017. Majed Ishaq, director general of marketing, Palestine Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, said: “The results were better than our expectations. We believe that WTM Latin America is the right show to be part of in the whole region.” According to the World Tourism Organization, in the fi rst half of 2017, Palestine was the country with the highest growth in the number of international tourists by comparison with the same period in 2016. Many of these visitors
are on religious pilgrimages, with Christianity being a big focus among Latin American travellers to this part of the Middle East. Luciane Leite, WTM Latin America’s director, said: “Latin America is a region with strong Christian religiosity, and religious tourism is one of the major drivers of the domestic travel industry, being an important market for those who wish to increase their infl uence in the sector. “Palestine’s return to WTM Latin America confi rms Latin America’s full tourism potential as well as the region’s infl uence on global tourism.”
Partnership enjoys growth in attendees
exhibitors
600 M 700
travel agents
extra agents from Brazil
100 12,000 meetings 57 no-shows fewer
wtm.com
ore than 700 travel agents attended WTM Latin America under its partnership
with the Interamerican Network, a Brazilian travel marketing agency. Interamerican’s work with WTM on a guest travel agent programme saw an extra 100 agents attend the event from throughout Brazil’s 27 states. Edna Costa, of Ecost Turismo & Eventos, was part of a group from Volta Redonda in Rio de Janeiro state. She said: “It was my fi rst time at the event and we were very well received. I am at the beginning stage and this experience, as well as bringing new knowledge, will certainly help me in selling and off ering new experiences to my customers.” As well as the increase in numbers,
there was a fall among no-shows. In 2017, 84 of the agents registered did not participate in the event, a number that fell to 27 this year. “Our goal is to attract, year-on-year,
more travel agents, as well as giving greater potential to their participating in the event’s three days,” said Leite. Next year’s show, the seventh, is
already confi rmed and will take place from April 2-4 in Sao Paulo.
summer 2018 wtm insights 11
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