Travel and tourism trade fairs

Travel and tourism fairs bring destinations, hotels, airlines, operators and event suppliers together with buyers. The sector mixes trade-only markets with some consumer shows, and it includes the meetings and events industry.

The sector covers travel trade and consumer travel shows, destinations, tourism marketing, resorts and holiday parks, business travel, and the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry, known as MICE. Hospitality equipment and food service sit in a separate sector. For exhibitors, a travel fair is a place to meet tour operators, agents and buyers; for visitors, it is a way to compare destinations and contract suppliers.

WTM London is a trade event for the travel and tourism industry held in London. The business events side is represented by IBTM World in Barcelona, where planners and association leaders meet suppliers of destinations, hotels and event technology, and by Festivak in 's-Hertogenbosch for Dutch event organizers.

National and regional markets have their own fairs. Istanbul Tourism Fair is a B2B fair for tourism and MICE, while TTI İzmir is an annual expo and congress held under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. BTExpo in Nivelles serves the Belgian travel industry, and Leisure Japan in Tokyo covers attractions, indoor leisure and glamping. Spain, with fairs in Ourense, and Portugal, with events in Lisbon, add Iberian platforms.

Resort and attraction suppliers form a further segment. IGES in Pigeon Forge is a wholesale show for souvenirs and resort merchandise, and Recreatie Vakbeurs in Hardenberg serves holiday parks and campsites across the Benelux. Birmingham and Montreal host travel events, and the sector is closely tied to leisure and sports and food and hospitality.