New UK Tourism Minister to Attend WTM London 2025
Stephanie Peacock, the newly appointed UK Minister responsible for Tourism, will attend the opening day of World Travel Market (WTM) London 2025, reinforcing closer cooperation between the event and the UK Government. Considered the world’s most influential travel and tourism gathering, WTM London will take place at ExCeL London from November 4–6.
Peacock will begin her agenda on Tuesday, 4 November at 09:00, participating in the event’s official opening ceremony. She will be accompanied by senior tourism leaders, including Patricia Yates, Chief Executive Officer of VisitBritain, this year’s Premier Partner. The opening aims to highlight the UK’s commitment to advancing tourism as a key economic driver.
Following the ceremony, Peacock will take part in the UN Ministers’ Summit, hosted jointly by WTM, UN Tourism and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Now in its 19th year, the Summit is the world’s largest annual gathering of tourism ministers, advisors and selected private-sector leaders. During the session, Peacock will deliver brief opening remarks to kick off the discussions.
At 14:00, the minister will chair a closed-door roundtable with tourism ministers from across the European Union, focused on sustainable tourism and government collaboration. Later that afternoon, she will participate in a C-suite panel titled “Soft Power Advantage: Leveraging the UK’s Global Influence,” scheduled for 15:00 at the Yellow Theatre and open to all WTM attendees.
In the evening, Peacock will attend the exclusive Ministerial Reception, a networking event bringing together delegates from the Ministers’ Summit. This year, the gathering will be held at one of London’s most historic venues: the Churchill War Rooms in Westminster.
WTM London Event Director Chris Carter-Chapman welcomed the minister’s presence, noting that: “We’re delighted to welcome the new tourism minister, and we are proud that she has earmarked time in her schedule to visit WTM London. We look forward to introducing her to key global decision makers and highlighting the major role WTM plays in supporting the UK tourism sector.”
Peacock assumed the tourism portfolio in September as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which oversees culture, arts, media, sports, tourism and civil society in England. Tourism administration in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is devolved, while DCMS funds VisitBritain, the national tourism board that works to promote the entire United Kingdom as a year-round destination.
Tourism remains a powerful economic engine for the UK: the sector generates £145.8 billion, representing 6.5% of GDP, and supports 3.8 million jobs, including 1.6 million directly tied to tourism. WTM London itself is a major contributor to the London economy. Last year, more than 40,000 industry professionals attended, with 82% traveling from overseas, generating an estimated £200 million in local economic benefit through spending on accommodation, dining, transportation and entertainment.
