World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is expanding its successful WTM Vision Conference series into Russia and China with WTM Vision – Moscow and WTM Vision -Shanghai.

WTM Vision launched in London in 2009 as a half-day mid-year conference offering senior delegates the latest information, research and opinion to help them run their travel businesses.

The successful London event was repeated in 2010. This year the London Vision conference was part of an expanded programme which took in Europe, with WTM Vision – Milan, and the Middle East, with WTM Vision – Dubai, at fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions event Arabian Travel Market.

2012 will see the WTM Vision series expand into Russia and China, two of the most important travel and tourism markets.

WTM Vision – Moscow, organised with Travel Media publisher of TTG Russia and TTG Luxury (to be launched in March 2012), will take place in the Russian capital on 19 March in The Ritz Carlton, Moscow. It will focus on growing sector of luxury tourism in the Russian travel market.

According to the UNWTO, Russia has the 9th largest outbound tourism market in terms of expenditure and it is increasing annually by 14%, which is why Europe’s largest travel companies including – TUI and Thomas Cook – have entered the market in the past 18 months.

WTM Vision - Shanghai, organised association with CBN Travel & MICE and World Travel Online, will take place on 10 May at the World Travel Fair in the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.

World Travel & Tourism Council figures show China is the world’s third largest market for outbound tourists spending around US$55 billion in 2010. China also received 56 million international tourists in 2010 generating US$46 billion.

In September, Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan said the Chinese Government would “double its effort in tourism” because of the industry’s link to social economic development.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Chairman World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery said: “The WTM Vision Conference series has been a great success since it was launched in London in 2009.

“The industry has shown a great demand for mid-year information, research, analysis and opinion to help shape business strategies.

“Russia is an obvious country for further expansion as its travel and tourism is one of the fastest growing in the world with a number of Europe’s biggest players starting to take an interest in the market.

“China is another obvious destination for the WTM Vision series, it is already one of the most important outbound and inbound tourism markets. The government has recently reaffirmed its 2009 commitment to tourism being a ‘strategic pillar’ of its policy. This policy and commitment to tourism was lauded at last year’s UNWTO and WTM Ministers’ Summit.”