International airlines, emerging destinations and niche technology providers are among the 225 new exhibitors confirmed for World Travel Market 2013, the leading global event for the industry.
Nearly one-quarter of the new businesses in attendance this year can be found within the inaugural Travel Tech Show at WTM, which has derived from the phenomenal success of the travel technology region at previous WTMs. Europe is the next most popular region for new exhibitors, followed by the Americas. All eight WTM regions will host new exhibitors.
The Travel Tech Show at WTM welcomes 61 new exhibitors. Amadeus, Comtec, Pegasus and Dolphin Dynamics are some of the familiar reservations and booking technology firms exhibiting this year. But other sectors such as email marketing, reviews management and consumer-facing bedbanks will be represented by newcomers such as Silverpop, reputation.com and Venere.
The 43 new European exhibitors reflects the improving economic climate across continental Europe. Russian flag carrier Aeroflot is the biggest name back within the WTM fold. VisitBrussels is also new, strengthening the overall presence of Belgium at this year’s WTM. Spain’s state-owned railway Renfe is also exhibiting.
Africa is an important market for WTM parent company Reed Travel Exhibitions, which is hosting the first-ever WTM Africa next May (2nd-3rd) in Cape Town, South Africa. Seventeen new African exhibitors at WTM 2013 include Board of Tourism for Sao Tome and Principe, Ghana Tourist Authority and Cape Verde.
Asia Pacific is another region growing in importance as an inbound destination and source market. More than 20 new exhibitors specialise in this region, including airlines Garuda and Royal Brunei, Pandaw River Expeditions from Cambodia and Silk Road specialist Sitara International, based in Uzbekistan.
Elsewhere, there are more than twenty new exhibitors in The Americas region, which covers North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Brand USA has also increased its stand space by 30%. The new exhibitors include two more airlines, Avianca and Air Europa, while the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board is also making its debut.
The Middle East is responsible for a further eight new exhibitors, including organisations promoting tourism to Yemen, Palestine and Iraq. India’s seven new exhibitors include destinations such as West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The five new exhibitors in the Global Village include UK-based city card specialist Groundline Enterprises and Canadian poolside security device manufacturer Pool Safe Inc.
Finally, ten new exhibitors from the UK and Ireland include Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and London Theatre Group.
Reed Travel Exhibitions, Senior Director, World Travel Market, Simon Press said: “I am delighted to see 225 new exhibitors for WTM13, and I’m also pleased by the geographical spread of these businesses, and the sectors in which they operate. It proves that WTM is a truly global event covering all aspects of the travel and tourism industry”.
