World Travel Market 2011 will focus on the emerging BRIC economies with its first-ever dedicated headline session on the travel and tourism potential of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The event will be sponsored by the WTM Official Premier Partner Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which was last year recognised as the World Leading Tourism Authority by the World Travel Awards.

WTM 2010 highlighted the tourism development in the BRIC nations in its inaugural World Travel Market 2010 Industry Report.

The Report – which polled 1,300 WTM exhibitors and buyers from the Meridian Club as well as 1,000 UK holidaymakers – revealed almost half of the industry see the BRIC economies as one of the biggest growth opportunities of the next five years.

Furthermore, almost one in three said the BRIC tourism potential is the biggest opportunity of the next five years, with a further 55 per cent stating the business conducted with the five nations had had a positive impact on their businesses over the past 12 months.

India highlighted the growing importance of the BRIC nations at WTM 2010 by increasing its exhibition space by 28 per cent.

The increase was fuelled by growing support from private sector travel and tourism companies. 

Exhibition director, Simon Press, said: “The BRIC economies will play an ever-increasing role in the future of the travel and tourism industry.

“The desire by the people of these countries to travel abroad as well the growing interest of tourist to visit these countries means they will be at the forefront of decisions made by the industry’s leading organisations.

“Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup followed quickly by the 2016 Olympics alongside Russia wining the 2022 World Cup demonstrates the growing trends towards these nations.”

The session takes place on Wednesday November 10th in Platinum Suite 4.

City.Mobi

Also in Europe today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to London.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain.

Already on offer are Rio.Mobi - home to the 2016 Olympic Games – Moscow.Mobi, New Delhi.Mobi and Beijing.Mobi.

London.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.