A world united: WTM London 2021 preview

Atout France
Caroline Leboucher,
Chief executive

How are international visitor numbers?
There is no escaping that the pandemic has had an impact on international visitor numbers, though France has been rather resilient compared to other destinations, thanks to its domestic market and neighbouring markets including Belgium and Switzerland.

What’s the focus for 2022?
We will place a strong focus on slow and sustainable tourism, developing high-end product for the trade. We will also be preparing to welcome visitors for global sports events such as the Rugby World Cup France 2023 and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Any new developments?
New openings such as the Cheval Blanc hotel in Paris and Dijon’s long-awaited Cite Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin museum, due to open on 22 April, highlight a continued trend in constantly improving our tourism product.

Visit Hungary National Tourism Organisation
Dalma Horvath,
Head of business development, UK

How are international visitor numbers?
Foreign guests spent a total of 2.9 million guest nights in Hungarian accommodation this summer, which is 40% higher than last year. While in September last year 45% of the guest nights in Budapest came from foreigners, this year this proportion is already more than 60% in terms of the number of nights booked and spent.

What’s the focus for 2022?
Great focus will be put on active tourism, wellness and spa products, Hungarian wine and gastronomy and new, undiscovered Hungarian destinations.

Any new developments?
Despite the pandemic, accommodation developments did not stop in Hungary. New hotels include Matild Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest; and Kozmo Hotel Budapest.

Jamaica Tourist Board
Hon Edmund Bartlett,
Minister of tourism

What can people joining WTM this year expect from Jamaica?
We will be highlighting increased air services this winter, including British Airways’ direct flight from London to the vibrant Montego Bay, and Virgin Atlantic increasing the number of flights from London Heathrow also to Montego Bay. We’ll be celebrating Jamaican music, the new Bond film No Time To Die and Jamaica’s outstanding luxury experiences.

How are international visitor numbers?
Since reopening its borders in June 2020, the island has welcomed more than one million international visitors.

What’s the focus for 2022?
We will focus on culture as we celebrate our 60th anniversary.

Any new developments?
Eclipse at Half Moon is a luxurious new addition to Jamaica, featuring 57 luxurious and spacious accommodations, as well as a private beachfront with a natural swimming cove.

JNTO London office
Jun Jinushi,
Executive director

What can people joining WTM this year expect from Japan?
This year we will be joined by local destinations, airlines and DMCs across the live and virtual WTM hybrid, with an increased offering available, rich in regional cultures and natural splendour, based on newly established sustainable travel guidelines.

What’s the focus for 2022?
Bucket list Japan, the Olympic and Paralympic legacy, outdoor and adventure travel, and luxury travel.

Any new developments?
New Unesco World Heritage listings in the north and south have joined new ski slopes, a new bullet train line, remote luxury hotels, large infrastructure investment projects and the likes of Super Nintendo World and a forthcoming Studio Ghibli theme park – among many other openings – in setting the agenda for 2022.

Jordan Tourism Board
Dr Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat,
Managing director

How are international visitor numbers?
They are slowly recovering as regulations are easing internationally, and as Jordan is open for tourism with a set of rules and regulations to maintain safe travel for tourists.

What’s the focus for 2022?
JTB will be supporting the trade, focusing on different tourism segments and sustainable travel. We’ll be putting Jordan on the map again to regain visitor numbers. The JTB is also always looking to attract new airlines and increase accessibility into Jordan from the UK and internationally.

Any new developments?
The Ritz Carlton is a new five-star property opening in 2022 in the heart of Amman. Jordan’s largest waterpark, Saraya Aqaba Waterpark, has opened in Aqaba. Several local experiences in As-Salt have been developed after the town became a Unesco World Heritage Site this year.

Tourism Malaysia London
Mohd Shahrir Mohd Ali,
Director

How are international visitor numbers?
Malaysia has taken a careful approach and currently international visitors are not permitted to enter the country for leisure. A trial project on the island of Langkawi began in September, with double-vaccinated domestic tourists being allowed to travel. This trial is expected to be rolled out to more tourism hotspots including Sabah and Sarawak, and to include international arrivals by the end of the year.

What’s the focus for 2022?
We want to assure travellers that when we are in a safe position to welcome them back, we will do so with open arms.

Any new developments?
Sunway Resort has announced a $60 million transformation and is scheduled to reopen in different phases from Q3 2021. The integrated project is set to incorporate a Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill.

Malta Tourism Authority
Tolene van der Merwe,
Director UK and Ireland

How are international visitor numbers?
They are not yet near pre-pandemic levels, however they’ve been steady as we’ve consistently been on the UK’s green list and other source markets. Malta’s vaccination roll-out was also one of the best in Europe and it has implemented its Sunny and Safe Covid protocols, so visitors can be reassured that all restaurants, accommodation and service providers must comply with the highest levels of cleanliness and safety.

What’s the focus for 2022?
We will continue to focus on wellness, gastronomy, diving, activities and adventures on the islands.

Any new developments?
New developments include the opening of the new Embassy Valletta Hotel and the new Mercure in St Julian’s. In addition, the Corinthia Palace is partnering with Michelin-starred restaurant Bahia later this year, while the hotel’s Athenaeum Spa is set to open in April 2022.

Polish Tourism Organisation
Dorota Wojciechowska,
Director

How are international visitor numbers?
International arrivals dropped significantly in 2020 but now numbers are increasing. There were 16,155 British tourist visits in the first quarter of 2021. Return to travel is happening, but with new consumer habits and expectations.

What’s the focus for 2022?
Travel safety and restoring confidence in the country’s city breaks.

Any new developments?
Mandoria City is the largest indoor theme park in Poland, styled as a Renaissance trading city, with more than 20 attractions, including family rollercoasters, boats and extraordinary attractions. Swieradow-Zdroj is the highest observation tower in Poland. New hotels include the NYX Hotel Warsaw, AC by Marriott Krakow, Stradom House Autograph Collection Krakow and Altus Palace Wroclaw.

ProColombia
Flavia Santoro,
President

How are international visitor numbers?
We are seeing recovery signs. Between September 2020 – when international air connectivity opened in Colombia – and June 2021, the arrival of tourists reached an average monthly increase of 79%. We are receiving the most visitors from the US, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Panama.

What’s the focus for 2022?
To work on the reactivation of the tourism industry with a strong effort to continue implementing sustainable parameters in all tourism activities.

Any new developments?
ProColombia designed “Routed towards innovation”, a project that identifies the country’s most innovative tourist experiences and highlights qualities that make our destinations unique. It includes 25 innovative and original experiences. One example is Casa Rivera del Cacao, located in the Coffee Cultural Landscape, where one of the best chocolate bars in the world is produced with Colombian cacao, offering visitors an immersion of its production by hosting them in the cabin.

Qatar Tourism
Berthold Trenkel,
Chief operating officer

How are international visitor numbers?
Since borders reopened in July Qatar has welcomed more than 200,000 visitors, with guests from India, Saudi Arabia, the US, Turkey and the UK leading the way.

What’s the focus for 2022?
We’ll have an action-packed calendar of major events and festivals, culminating in the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.

Any new developments?
There are more than 100 new hotels and hotel apartments in the construction pipeline. Over the last 18 months, we’ve launched theme parks such as Quest, with the world’s tallest indoor rollercoaster; new hotels such as the Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, with an accompanying world-class waterpark; and new exciting offers such as our astrotourism starry desert sky experience.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Raki Phillips,
Chief executive

How are international visitor numbers?
In July we welcomed the highest number of visitors ever, with more than 109,048 arrivals. This can be attributed to travel corridors opening, successful promotional campaigns, new hotels, as well as traveller-focused initiatives like free return PCR testing for international visitors.

What’s the focus for 2022?
Our vision is to become a regional leader in sustainable tourism by 2025.

Any new developments?
Bear Grylls Explorers Camp is to be expanded. There are also numerous projects on Jebel Jais including the new Basecamp Jais, which will offer affordable accommodation and activities for outdoor enthusiasts; the Jais Yard, an F&B Village; the Jais Sledder toboggan; and the Instagrammable Jais Swing. In terms of new hotels, the largest Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island made its debut in July 2021, and more properties are due to open from brands including Movenpick, InterContinental, Anantara and Radisson.

Slovenian Tourist Board
Masa Puklavec,
Global communications manager

How are international visitor numbers?
Slovenia experienced a successful summer in 2021, which will partially alleviate the loss of traffic in Q1. Through continued global stabilisation, we expect around 10% growth in tourist arrivals, with foreign arrivals amounting to an approx 30% increase year-on-year.

What’s Slovenia’s focus for 2022?
Outdoor and sports tourism will be key themes for Slovenia next year.

How is Slovenia working to support its trade partners?
Most recently we launched “My Way of Escaping to Slovenia”, an online educational platform designed for tour operators and travel agencies to gain new insider destination knowledge to share with their clients.

Any new developments?
Slovenia introduced a new label under our Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism in 2021. The Green Cuisine label is a sustainability-focused label aimed to guide all foodies who also care about the environment.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Yuthasak Supasorn,
Governor

How are international visitor numbers?
Since Phuket opened to international travellers on 1 July, followed by Koh Samui, Koh PhaNgan and Koh Tao from 15 July, we have seen more than 33,000 tourist arrivals to Thailand.

What’s the focus for 2022?
Positioning Thailand as a luxury destination and focusing on trends such as wellness and sustainability, in particular community-based tourism and wildlife protection. We’ll also focus on value family travel, multigenerational villa holidays and how culturally rich Thailand is for kids. There will be a focus on destinations that are immediately accessible as more of Thailand reopens, while still highlighting hidden gems.

Any new developments?
We’re excited to welcome premier brands The Standard to Hua Hin this December and Bangkok in 2022, as well as boutique resorts such as Explorar Pawapi Koh Mook and Bill Bensley’s converted heritage train carriages for suites at the Intercontinental Khao Yai national park resort.

Visit the WTM site for stand numbers