World Travel Market (WTM), the leading global event for the travel industry, has a comprehensive Sports Tourism program reviewing the success of the London 2012 Olympics and assessing the benefits and constraints for host nations of major sporting events.

The Sports Tourism program, sponsored by Eurosport, starts on the first day of WTM, Monday, November 5, at 3:00 pm with “Tourism and the Olympic Games 2012 – A Review,” which will look at the impact the London 2012 Games has had on London’s and the UK’s tourism industry.

Speakers include European Tour Operators Association Tom Jenkins, who has been an outspoken critic of the impact the Olympic Games has had on tourism for host cities, arguing that tourists stay away in the build up, during, and aftermath of the event.

UKinbound Chief Executive Mary Rance shares her thoughts on the impact of the London games in the session which takes place in Platinum Suite 4 at ExCeL – London.

The major sporting event theme continues on Wednesday, November 7, with “Optimizing the Tourism Benefits of Major Events for Host Nations,” which will ask what the major right holders (such as the International Olympic Committee and FIFA) should be doing to help deliver the potential tourism benefits.

Visit Britain Chief Executive Sandie Dawe will review the help she received from the IOC.

Professor Geoffrey Lipman from the Chair of DeHaan Institute’s Advisory Board will chair the event, which takes place on Wednesday, November 7, at 3:30 pm in Platinum Suite 3.

The final session in the Sports Tourism program looks at adventure tourism. “The Future for Activity, Adventure and Sports Tourism” panel of speakers includes: Xola Consulting CEO Caroline Heyniger, The Adventure Travel Trade Association Vice President Chris Chesak, and Wilderness Scotland Director Paul Easto.

It takes place on Tuesday, November 6, at 2:00 pm in South Gallery Rooms 25/25.

The program, sponsored by Eurosport, is organised by Ken Robinson CBE.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press said: “The impact of major sporting events on travel and tourism has been much debated. There has been much debate in the UK about the impact the 2012 Games will have on London, with stories of tourists staying away, as hotels increase their prices, leaving restaurants and the theatres empty.

The WTM Sports Program will look into this further and review the impact on Tourism of the 2012 Olympics.”