WTM 2011: BRICS Fuel Tourism Explosion

WTM 2011: BRICS Fuel Tourism Explosion

The leading BRICS countries, which are driving a dramatic increase in global tourism, will be in the spotlight at a keynote World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, session.

Stephen Sackur, presenter of BBC World’s flagship news and current affairs program, HARDtalk will host the panel discussion on Wednesday 9 November. Senior representatives will be present from government and tourism organizations of all five BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Chairman World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery said the BRICS countries represented significant potential for the future, bringing huge economic benefits for markets that are prepared for the new arrivals.

China outbound travel market is growing by an estimated 20 percent increase every year. A total of 58 million Chinese travelled outbound last year last year. The Chinese, for example, has set their sights on the Caribbean — and particularly the region’s tourism business — as a significant investment target.  Governments in the region, as well as the private sector, are welcoming them with open arms.

A formal invitation was made earlier this year by the BRIC countries for South Africa, as the continent’s leading economy, to join them. It was for this reason that five countries have been invited to be represented at World Travel Market’s forum called ‘Power Talk: Investing in BRICS Tourism’.

Speakers include: Jeanine Pires, Director of Pires & Associates, President of the Tourism and Business Council of FECOMERCIO in Sao Paulo and former President of Embratur, Brazil; Sergey Stanovkin, Director of Dars Consulting, Moscow, Russia and H.E. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South Africa’s Tourism Minister.