Reflections of World Travel Market 2023
I was greeted at the entrance of the ExCel Centre by a Mexican all lady Mariachi group. That set a positive tone.
Things looked familiar, the usual brightly coloured stands where each country proudly proclaimed they must be visited by the force of their display. Yet since 2020 there has been lockdowns and a WTM closure that happened in that year. A body blow from which the WTM was still recovering. Events restarted in 2021 when there was a slightly eerie feel of unreality, of caution, unease and the wearing of facemasks. WTM 2022 and things were beginning to get back as they were during 2019. Even so I had the sense of difficulties the airline and travel industry were likely to face. We lost Flybe, which is a still a huge shame. More companies and airlines were likely to find life difficult. An attempted revival of Flybe happened during 2022. Unfortunately that petered out in January of 2023, many relied on Flybe to take them to places that are not so quite adequately served even now. Flybe first ceased trading during March 2022, and that left a mark on my psychology. I had that not quite sure sense things were quite not back on track, I could have been wrong of course.
WTM 2023 was very busy, yet, that does not always mean healthy profits. One or two geopolitical events can knock things off course.
Ukraine 2022, Israel 2023/4, flights could be disrupted again, already many international flights do not cross Russia but go via a more expensive southerly route.
Generally I am a positive person but the nagging doubts about economy are still there. Watch for cautious 'penny-pinching' and airlines filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptsy Protection. Even so, the order books of Airbus and Boeing are full and have backlogs of orders. Embraer is a fairly new 'kid on the block' but now produces many capable aircraft. These three will soon be challenged by the Comac C919 from China and the MS(MC-21) of Russia. Many tourist destinations have been very full during 2024, resulting in fed up locals, who have been protesting about how this has changed their lives. A new phenomenon which allegedly began in Spain.
Back to WTM 2023, early during the day I fortunately met Joolz of Joolz guides. Yes, he really is 6ft 7inches tall (over 200 cms !) and a jolly chappie he is, wearing his distinctive Bowler hat. I highly recommend his videos on London. He also has an excellent guide to London, a book that is available.
https://youtu.be/xg4_nipToHE?si=2pXNc-N1ivb8thnJ
Later in the day I again met the superb Harpist Helena Ricci. She was on the Egyptian stand dressed like a Princess of the Nile. That's two huge pluses for WTM 2023. She once gave me a sublime rendition of Erik Satie's Gnossienne No 1. It was if her harp was speaking to me personally. Well done Helena !
The Bulgarian stand often has a sommelier to be able to sample some of their extremely good wines, for thirteen WTM’s, they have confirmed the quality of their wines.
WTM 23 I sampled some brilliant wines on the Croatian stand. Whatever one’s personal taste, wines from Eastern Europe take some beating IMHO.
Every WTM I gravitate over to the Brasilian stand. I fell in love with Brasilian music at about the age of 10. During 1997 I joined Quilombo do Samba, a London based school of Samba. There are others but the people there I felt a harmony. I stayed with them until 2007 when they went back to Brasil(Portuguese spelling). For ten years I had a wonderful time with them. Naturally I seek out the Brasilian stand for coffee(Cafezinho) and some tasty snacks. Am I there for food and wine tasting or serious research and networking ? You may well ask..!
Sadly in 2023 I didn’t see the old Cuban cigar roller on the Cuban stand, he had become quite a feature as had the man from the Netherlands carving his wooden clogs, also absent.
The sheer plethora of stands at WTM 23 extolling the virtues of many countries can be overwhelming in time and energy. I am particularly attracted to Japan and Thailand, then there is…...It is easy to become lost in the event and suddenly time flies.
If one is interested in travel, networking and the travel industry in general, it is the place to be. I have been visiting since the event took place at Olympia, catching up with friends and absorbing myself in the world of travel.
What of the future, there are possible more negative events on the horizon. One must stay positive and hope for the best.
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