Caribbean, Latin America attending London’s World Travel Market

Over 5,000 exhibitors from a record of 191 countries, including a massive representation from Latin America and the Caribbean, attended the World Travel Market that highlighted the tourism industry from Monday 10 to Thursday 13 in London.

The reaction of travel markets to the war in Iraq and the SARS outbreak (Severe and Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in Asia were two major points of discussion during the course of this annual fair that celebrated its 24th edition.

The first two sessions of the World Travel Market were focused on lectures and debates that drew the attention of all attendants.

Experts of all stripes got a chance to steal a look at the tradeshow on Wednesday and Thursday, coinciding with an array of public functions.

As in previous editions of the World Travel Market, one of the world’s main events of its kind, the opening session set the conditions for disclosing this year’s tourist statistics.

In the case of Europe, Croatia and Bulgaria leapfrogged farther than any other nation, while traditional destinations such as Spain, Portugal and Italy bogged down.

Flights from the United States have dropped dramatically in 2003, according to official stats. As a matter of fact, this country –still enduring the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks- rented 4 percent less exhibiting space at the Excel Fairgrounds for this year’s tradeshow in London.