PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Honourable Joseph Ross, the Minister of Tourism, will lead a Trinidad and Tobago delegation to London for the four day World Travel Market (WTM).
Scheduled to take place at ExCel, London from November 10-13 and attracting the participation of over 200 countries, World Travel Market is the premier business forum for the global travel industry and it is a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business under one roof.
The Honourable Joseph Ross, the Minister of Tourism, explained that “the main objective behind our participation in WTM is to achieve an increase in the United Kingdom/European stay-over visitors to Trinidad and Tobago. The UK and European markets are both very important for Tobago given that the UK recorded the highest number of visitors to the sister isle representing 48.3% cumulatively over the period 2003 to 2006. European nationals were represented by 18.6% in arrivals to Tobago over the self same period of 2003 to 2006.
We also hope to increase the visibility of Trinidad as a leisure and activity based destination whilst in London”.
Our participation in the 2008 World Travel Market will also afford us the opportunity to meet with international press so as to generate media coverage and international publicity. At WTM the Trinidad and Tobago delegation has also scheduled meetings with several airline representatives, tour companies as well as other members of the tourism trade with a view of generating increased sales inquiries.
Additionally Minister Ross will attend the Ministers’ Summit on Tourism and Climate Change on November 11. It is hoped that this very timely Ministers’ Summit will deepen the debate on the global economic downturn and examine the effects on climate change, sustainability and poverty reduction.
The issues that will be discussed at the Ministers’ Summit include:
– Mitigating GHG emissions from tourism, especially within transport and accommodation
– Adapting tourism businesses and destinations to changing climate conditions
– Applying existing and new technologies to improve energy efficiency, and
– Secure financial resources to assist regions and countries in need.
The Trinidad and Tobago delegation comprises representatives from the Tobago House of Assembly, the Tourism Development Company, local hoteliers both from Trinidad and from Tobago as well as ground transport operators.
By attending the 2008 World Travel Market, Trinidad and Tobago efficiently, effectively and productively gain immediate competitive advantage for our businesses and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry.
A record breaking 48,111 individuals who operate at different levels in the tourism sector attended the World Travel Market 2007.
