The 5th edition of WTM Latin America & 47th Braztoa Business Event started with 23% more visitors on the first day in São Paulo, Brazil
The optimistic tone of economic recovery was predominant during the speeches on the first day of activities at the 5th edition of WTM Latin America. The main travel event for the Latin American market started yesterday (4th April) at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo and saw a 23% increase in visitors on the first day event.
In the opening ceremony attended by regional and state secretaries, industry leaders and businesspeople, the Minister of Tourism, Max Beltrão, highlighted the relevance of the sector for creating jobs opportunities and stated that the initiative should not only start from the national perspective. “City administrations need to discuss projects so that the labour market grows on all levels.”
Lawrence Reinisch, director of WTM Latin America, said that “despite the challenging times that world has faced over the last five years, this is the time to return to growth”.
Despite the advance of almost 10% in the industry in 2016, Braztoa president Magda Nassar said that the country is far from maturity in the sector and demanded better dialogue for resolving businesses’ and consumers’ concerns and called for policies that value tourism professionals.
WTM Latin America Trends Report
The 2017 WTM Latin America Trends Report, in association with Euromonitor International, highlighted trends that have been emerging in the travel and tourism industry in Latin America.
Latin America’s travel landscape is shifting, as greater numbers of women and older travellers group that will soon represent more than 25% of the region’s visitors.
The study found that growing female autonomy in Latin America means that women are increasingly confident and empowered to travel.
“The last few years have led to the rise of websites and blogs written by women telling experiences as autonomous travellers. Women frequently travel alone in search of freedom to organise their own itinerary, as well as to have their own experiences and build up their self-confidence,” says Marília Borges, a research analyst at Euromonitor International based in Brazil.
The study also predicts that almost 90 million travellers over 50 will visit Latin America by 2020 making up 28% of the region’s tourists. This is a 40% increase over the last ten years. The report explains that the post-war generation is maturing and changing the perception of aging.
