Lord Tom Pendry of Stalybridge, who was instrumental in shaping the UK Government’s current policy on travel and tourism, is the Guest Speaker at this year’s World Travel Market Ministers’ Reception.
The policy document written by Lord Pendry (then a Member of Parliament), ‘Breaking New Ground’ focuses on the creation and sustainability of an economic climate in which the tourism and hospitality sectors can thrive. The document highlights the importance of investment and the need for quality training and education.

The reception, sponsored by BBC World with a weekly audience of 65 million viewers, is part of WTM’s Ministers Programme, now in its second year.

Taking place on Monday on the Silver Sturgeon riverboat, moored at the Western Entrance to ExCeL London, the reception is expected to be attended by more than 100 Government Ministers, Ambassadors and High Commissioners.

The event will be hosted by Fiona Jeffery, managing director of World Travel Market and Baroness Anelay of St. Johns DBE, chairman of WTM’s Advisory Council.

Commented Jeffery “World Travel Market’s Ministers’ Programme is designed to honour and acknowledge the vital contribution of Tourism Ministers to the international travel and tourism industry and, in a modest way, assist them by creating a stimulating and more enjoyable business environment.”

BBC World’s FASTTRACK will be filming at the Ministers’ Reception.
World Travel Market 2007 will be the venue for a major WTM Ministers’ Summit, in association with the World Tourism Organization, revealed Fiona Jeffery.

“We are delighted at the growing and positive response from Government Ministers to the WTM Ministers’ Programme”, she said.

“By next year we believe the programme will be sufficiently established to embark on a more ambitious, highly constructive and dedicated half-day event, which will conclude with a lunch.

“We are delighted that the UNWTO has agreed to work with us on ensuring that the summit becomes a regular, useful and prestigious forum encouraging high level debate among inisters.

“Currently we are analysing feedback from Ministers’ offices to understand what issues and speakers would be preferred before finalising the content of the summit.”
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