São Paulo – At least five Arab exhibitors will attend this year’s edition of the tourism fair World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America, organized since 2013 by Reed Travel Exhibitions in São Paulo. This year, the event will be held at Expo Center Norte. In previous editions, Transamérica Expo Center, in the city’s South Side, was the place to host the fair’s exhibitors and visitors, which is directed only at tour operators, travel agents, airlines and suppliers and is not open to the general public.
Tourism officials from Egypt, Jordan, Abu Dhabi and Morocco already confirmed attendance at the WTM Latin America. Besides them, Emirates Airline, Dubai’s airline, will also take part among the Arab exhibitors. According to WTM Latin America’s director, Lawrence Reinisch, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are usually presented as cultural and leisure-oriented destinations, while Abu Dhabi is presented as culture- and business-oriented.
“There’s huge potential for the exchange of tourists, goods and services between the Arab countries and Latin America. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Panama, Mexico, Colombia and Peru are potential destination for Arabs”, said Reinisch to ANBA, noting that Latin people are hospitable with Arabs visitors. He also said that the Middle East is, a lot of times, a connection hub for Latin people that are going to Asia as final destination.
On the other hand, costs, distance and mutual lack of knowledge are some of the reasons that interfere with the growth of the exchange. Lebanon, Palestine and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing of Dubai, which attended previous editions of the event, won’t be coming this year.
Mantain attendance
Reinisch hopes that this edition of the WTM Latin America keeps or expands its audience and exhibitors of last year and that business volume increases. “We hope for an increase of 10% in business volume in comparison to the previous edition”, he said. In 2014, business deals – to be closed until a year after the event – reached US$ 341 million. Also in 2014, 1,334 exhibitors were at the fair and the goal of the organizers is to reach at least 1,300 this year. Also last year, 6,570 people visited WTM Latin America, a number that the organizers are hoping reaches 8,000 in 2015.
“I don’t want to make a forecast that is not linked to the market’s size”, he said, referring to the fact that the Brazilian economy is going through some difficulties and, because of that, clients could redo their plans based on another reality.
United States, Turkey, Chile and Brazil have been the most sought destinations in the previous edition and their participation should increase even more. Reinisch said that among Arabs, Egypt always attends the fair.
Services
WTM Latin America
From April 22nd to 24
Expo Center Norte – Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333, Vila Guilherme, São Paulo – SP
More information: http://www.wtmlatinamerica.com/
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
