World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is unveiling a new Sports Pavilion at WTM 2010 with some of the most iconic venues in the world exhibiting.

The spiritual home of four of the world’s major sports; Lords (cricket), Wimbledon (tennis), Twickenham (rugby) and Wembley (football) are all exhibiting in the new Sports Pavilion, which is situated in the UK and Ireland region of WTM 2010.

An array of top Premiership football grounds are also exhibiting including Old Trafford (Manchester United), Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) and Emirates Stadium (Arsenal).

The launch of the Sports Pavilion follows hot on the heels of the first Sports Tourism conference programme at World Travel Market last year, which included an array of high profile speakers from the 2010 football World Cup, London 2012 Olympic Committee and the Canadian 2010 Winter Olympics.

World Travel Market Sales Executive Christian Vicente said: “Sports Tourism is worth a staggering $51 billion a year* and World Travel Market is the first exhibition to recognise its growing importance to the industry, with the launch of the Sports Tourism seminar programme and Sports Pavilion.

“The Sports Pavilion is an exciting initiative which allows some of the world’s leading sports stadiums to promote their historic and prestigious venues, stadium tours and museums to the global travel trade for both leisure travellers and conferences and events.”

Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour Commercial Manager Ashley Jones said: “The Sports Tourism Pavilion is a great initiative as it allows the world’s most prestigious sports venues to promote ourselves to the global travel and tourism industry.

“Sports tourism is growing at a phenomenal rate with holidaymakers not only attending major sporting events but choosing their destination so they visit a famous sporting stadium.”

Wembley Stadium Tour Manager Adam Burrage added: “Wembley Stadium Tours is delighted to be exhibiting with World Travel Market. Wembley Stadium is the most famous stadium in the world and by working closely with WTM, we can extend our outreach to more overseas visitors than ever before’.