PAL London flights to be showcased at WTM

MANILA More than 40 Philippine exhibitors, including the Department of Tourism (DOT), will join the 2013 World Travel Market (WTM), the biggest global event for the travel industry held in London.

The DOT said the country's participation this year is the biggest since the country joined the event in 1980.

"This is the biggest Philippine participation since joining WTM back in 1980 or any travel fair worldwide. A total of 90 DOT officials led by Sec. Ramon Jimenez will be at WTM, said Susan del Mundo of DOT's Tourism Promotions Board.

Nearly 5,000 exhibitors from 184 countries are expected to generate more than GBP1,859 million (pounds) in travel industry deals at London's biggest annual travel event on November 4 to 7. The event is expected to attract more than 47,000 global travel professionals.

Highlighting the country's participation at the WTM is the return of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to London also starting on November 4.

"In the first six months of 2013 alone, we had more than 60,000 arrivals from Britain. This elevated the UK to the Philippines top ten visitor markets for the first time the only European nation on the list. With PALs new non-stop flights, we are sure those numbers will increase further, PAL President Ramon Ang said.

The DOT predicted European visitors to increase by 65% to about 575,000 this year and the current arrivals to double to around 700,000 in the coming year.

"It is not just tourists who stand to benefit but more importantly our 664,000 Filipino kababayans in Europe, particularly the 250,000 living in the UK, who will now be able to return home more often via the airline that knows them best," Ang said.

Ang will lead a delegation of top PAL and government officials on the inaugural flight including the British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad.

Originally posted here:

40 PH exhibitors join London's World Travel Market