The ExCel center in London hosted the World Travel Market from 7 to 9 November, an event that brought together thousands of travel industry representatives under one roof. A sector heavily affected by the pandemic and now focused on recovery. An opportunity to find out how the sector is changing and discuss new technological and consumer trends.
Tokyo encourages tourists to discover lesser-known areas
In Tokyo, international tourism resumed only last month, after more than two years of isolation. And visitors begin to return. “Compared to 2019, there are few tourists. But they are returning,” said Masashi Imai, director of marketing and promotion of the Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In the first half of this year, global tourism returned to nearly 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Tokyo is encouraging tourists to get off the beaten path. “Most people think that Tokyo is a big city and stay in the city area – says Imai -. We have to show the other side of Tokyo. People can enjoy the city, but also the less known areas”.
Making a common front to restart the sector
Better distribution of tourists is a key objective for many countries as they seek to fulfill their commitments of responsibility and sustainability. The industry players have common goals, which pushes them to put aside old rivalries like never before.
“Three other Ss have been added to the sun, sea and beach: serenity, spirituality and sustainability – says Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Minister of Tourism of Indonesia -. There is a good number of tourists. If we continue to compete with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, nobody will win. So we have to collaborate. We have to think of Southeast Asia as a single destination and we believe that with a correct approach towards personalized, tailor-made and localized tourism, in a small size, we will be able to offer better experiences “.
Millennials looking for experiences
“Millennials are coming and becoming those with the largest budget, but they are buying experiences, not just destinations – says Juliette Losardo, director of the fair -. In the future there will be more and more talk about what can be done in a destination”.
Artificial intelligence and big data help the travel industry personalize experiences and reach younger travelers. The Philippines is building unique experiences around activities such as diving, with an eye on ecology and education.
“It’s not just about coming for 2-3 days of diving and some night diving – says Margarita Montemayor Nograles, head of the Philippine tourism office -. Tourists, for example, can help clean our waters and, at the same time, time, take some underwater photos to post on Instagram. Then we would also like to educate people about the history of marine life. “
Tourism is also on the rise in Saudi Arabia: to win over experience lovers, you need to understand their lifestyle. “If you and I are K-Pop fans, whether you are in Riyadh or Paris, we are part of the same community – says Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority -. Lovers of cooking, shopping and other activities form communities. We need to focus on these communities, I think this is the way tourism should be approached in the future. It is a journey driven by passion “.
Malta will host the EuroPride event for the first time next year. “Malta has been one of the best LGBT destinations for seven years now – says Clayton Bartolo, Maltese Minister of Tourism -. This testifies to the work done on the civil rights front. We expect that next year there will be over 25,000 visitors for EuroPride alone. . Malta is a small island, which means there will be a huge influx of people. “
World Travel Market: in London there was talk of the future of tourism