Thai displays amaze WTM in London

Shirajiv SIRIMANE in London

The Tourism Authority of Thailand took the Best Stand Feature for their 'great reception area with a wonderful floral display or orchids. The overall effect was to show Thailand in all its glory as a truly amazing holiday destination at the WTM here yesterday.

Gulliver's Travel Associates were awarded Best Stand for Interacting with Travel Agents for their 'welcoming and colourful stand', and for handing out small octopuses to complement their theme. Best Stand Personnel award was won by Kenya Tourist Board for their 'great use of cultural outfits for the staff'.

At the last ITB in Berlin, Sri Lanka stand won an award. Meanwhile British Minister for Tourism, Barbara Follett has apologised on behalf of the British Government for two days of transport disruption. "Sorry was not the hardest word to say," she said while addressing the World Travel Market Ministers' Summit at ExCeL.

"I apologise on behalf of the Government for the difficult journeys that you have had for the past two days reaching here. The weather and transport system can be variable in this country!"

The retiring Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation Francesco Frangialli claimed that tourism will "survive with the support of its own strength.

Speaking at the World Travel Market Ministers' Summit at ExCeL London he said that, "We do not need a stimulus package for the industry."

"When the time comes, tourism will contribute to the revival of the economy as a whole. "For 2008, the outlook is not negative. International arrivals up to the end of August registered a steady increase of 3.8 per cent on an annual basis.

Whatever happens, there will be positive growth in real terms."

Chairman of World Travel Market, Fiona Jeffery, said: "Faced with unprecedented budgetary and economic cyclones, it would be easy and, perhaps convenient, to downgrade the problems confronting us.

"Poverty, sustainability, climate change are inextricably interwoven." "Recession and shutdowns are a bit like heart attacks. Shocking and unwanted," Jeffery said.