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World Travel Market (WTM), the second largest travel fair in the world, which celebrates its 30th year, opens in London on 9th November and continues for four days. Last year there were 50,000 visitors to the exhibition, including 26,000 travel professionals and 5,600 exhibitors from 190 countries.

“The significant recovery in tourism in recent months underlines the importance of the world’s second largest tourist fair as a significant marketing platform to help strengthen tourist traffic to Israel,” said the Minister of Tourism in a statement published by the Ministry of Tourism prior to his departure for London.

The Israeli stand will cover an area of 500 square metres and its activities will be based on the New7Wonders of Nature contest in which the Dead Sea is competing with another 28 sites from around the world. Official voting booths will be in operation, where it will be possible to vote in favour of the Dead Sea.  Dead Sea products from the Ahava Company will also be distributed and there will be a display of the Dead Sea Scrolls provided by the Israel Museum.

In addition, there will be booths selling packages for Verdi’s opera, “Nabucco at the Dead Sea” which is to be performed by the Israeli opera, celebrating its 25th anniversary. The opera which takes place in June 2010 will be performed at the foot of Masada.  The internationally renowned mind reader, Roy Zaltsman will perform telepathic shows on subjects relating to Israel, and red bracelets will be given out from the tombs of righteous in the Galilee, holy water from the River Jordan plus other features.

Among those taking part in a press conference on the opening day of the fair will be Noaz Bar Nir, director general of the Ministry of Tourism, Oren Drori, VP of marketing, who will present the activities of the Ministry of Tourism during 2009 in English as well as its objectives for the coming year.  

As well as representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, there will also be some 45 Israeli commercial representatives, including members from the hotel chains, the airlines, incoming tour operators, business entrepreneurs and others.