WTM to present global travel report

WORLD Travel Market’s Forecast Forum will present the first ever WTM global travel report, a summary of the guide to global travel trends outlined at the Pisa Forum. On November 10, an array of high-level panellists from around the world, representing global and regional tourism bodies, will give a three-minute overview of how they see the future of the travel and tourism industry in 2004. Despite initial projections of a second consecutive annual downturn in the industry, international tourist arrivals worldwide recorded an increase of 3% in 2002. This year, international arrivals are expected to show growth although demand for tourism and travel was hit by the effects of the Iraq war, threat of terrorist attacks, economic recession and Sars epidemic. (Natalia Thomson)