One of the world’s largest platforms for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the travel industry – the World Travel Market (WTM) London – is running at ExCeL London.
This year’s main theme is “Reimagining Travel in a Changing World.”
Yet the atmosphere at the exhibition remains as vibrant as ever – vast national stands, thousands of tourism professionals and enthusiasts, and a dazzling array of offers from every corner of the globe. WTM 2025 brings together representatives from over 180 countries and is expected to welcome more than 45,000 travel industry professionals. According to experts, it is on track to become the largest event in its 45-year history.
The opening of WTM 2025 was attended by Stephanie Peacock, recently appointed as the UK’s new Minister for Tourism, joined by other high-profile guests, including Patricia Yates, Chief Executive of VisitBritain – this year’s main event partner. On the first day, key industry trends and challenges were discussed at the UN Ministers’ Summit, organised by WTM in collaboration with UN Tourism and the WTTC. Now in its 19th edition, the summit remains the world’s largest gathering of tourism ministers and senior industry leaders.
Interestingly, experts see no signs of an impending downturn in the sector. According to the WTM Trends Report – produced in partnership with Oxford Economics – the global travel industry is forecast to grow faster than the world economy over the next decade. By 2035, international tourism revenues are expected to exceed US$16 trillion, representing nearly 12% of global GDP. These optimistic projections come as global travel reaches record highs in 2025: international arrivals are expected to surpass 1.5 billion, breaking the previous record set in 2019.
The report also highlights emerging industry trends. Travellers are embarking on longer and more distant journeys, and increasingly prioritising travel in their personal or family budgets. Consumers are choosing to spend on experiences rather than material possessions making live events and cultural activities a central force in the sector.
As stated on WTM 2025’s official website: “Travel is a force for good. How will you harness its power?” – positioning tourism not merely as an industry but as a global movement that connects people and drives progress.
Ultimately, WTM 2025 is presented as a platform for shaping the global tourism agenda where industry leaders and professionals come together to build the future of travel, looking beyond short-term trends to focus on sustainability, innovation, and long-term impact.
4–6 November 2025
ExCeL London
