The first two and a half days of World Travel Market 2014, the leading global event for the travel industry, experienced an impressive seven per cent increase in visitors, including buyers.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday up to 13:00 on Wednesday of WTM 2014, saw percentage year-on-year increases for visitors, and overall participants, with all delegates including visitors, buyers, international media and exhibitor personal up five per cent.

According to unaudited figures, in total WTM 2014 has had a total 82,213 visits compared to 78,035 at 13:00 on the third day of the 2013 event

The first day of WTM 2014 was a resounding success with invite-only visitor attendance up nine per cent on last year’s event to almost 9,692.

This includes a 13 per cent increase in invited WTM Buyers’ Club members.

The Monday of WTM is an exhibitor invite-only day to allow exhibitors to hold discussions and negotiations with those buyers that they want to conduct business with.

Exhibitor personnel was up three per cent to 12,289.

On Tuesday November 4th, 19,706 visitors came to WTM, a massive eight per cent increase on the second day of last year’s event. 

Tuesday is the busiest day of WTM as it is the first day the event is open to the whole industry following on from the exhibitor-invite only policy on the Monday. 

Furthermore, exhibitor personnel was up five per cent to 12,640.

International media attending WTM was also up one per cent.

World Travel Market, senior director, Simon Press said: “These figures demonstrate the power and importance of WTM to the industry and the role it plays in facilitating business for sector.

“World Travel Market 2014 is predicted to facilitate around £2.5 billion in industry deals and is poised to the best-ever attended.”

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