World Travel Market opened its doors for day one on 4 November 2025 at ExCeL London under the theme Reimagining Travel in a Changing World. Delegates from 180 countries entered at 09:30 with pre-booked meetings scheduled to reach 34,074 across three days. Exhibitors numbered 4,047 on stands that expanded by 25,000 square metres from last year.
Oxford Economics launched the WTM Global Travel Report on the Yellow Stage at 11:00. International arrivals hit 1.5bn this year with projections for 14.7 trillion euro in global output by 2035. Growth runs at 3.5pc annually against the world economy rate of 2.5pc. Inbound arrivals to the United States fall sixpc in 2025 to delay full recovery until 2029. Shoulder-season bookings rise with northern Europe arrivals up 9pc.
The Norman Year 2026 was launched at a press conference where Siobhan McManamy of Tourism ireland was among the participants, as the new Norman centre in Wexford will be part of the international celebration of 800 years after the birth of William the Conqueror.
Jeremy Smith opened the Sustainability Summit on the Purple Stage. Speakers urged operators to move beyond emission cuts and show tourists real community impacts. Examples included rice farmers in Kerala who guide kayak tours for extra income. Ministers from the Philippines, Kenya and Ecuador called for public-private partnerships and fiscal incentives.
The Geo-economics Summit ran on the Orange Stage from 11:00. Panels examined Chinese outbound travel with Saudi Arabia targeting 5m visitors by 2030. Delegates noted authenticity and emotional connections now drive bookings over price.
Uganda performers filled the Africa Hall with drumbeats and dances at stand S13-210. Sierra Leone Tourism Minister Nabeela Tunis cut the ribbon on her pavilion. Uttar Pradesh unveiled spiritual circuits at a stand inaugurated by Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari. Caribbean delegations hosted West Indies cricketer Desmond Haynes at the Barbados display.
WTM TV broadcast live interviews from the floor. Trend Fest staged cultural activations and daily presentations. Buyers completed 11,000 meetings by close at 18:00. Contracts signed on site point to deals worthbns of euro.
Day two begins at 09:30 with the Technology Summit and DEAI Summit. Organisers forecast total attendance above 46,000 by close tomorrow.
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