Most attending the exhibition appreciated the more orderly, relative calm of the two Meridian days. Many stands were continually busy and none of the exhibitors suggested that things were quiet. This was especially the case with the Meridian Club, intended to be a quieter retreat but always crammed, making it virtually impossible to find a seat.
A greater concern was that the £20 entry fee (£10 if booked in advance) deterred younger, less senior, members of the trade from attending at all. London's Korea National Tourism marketing manager Colin Willson said: "In the past we would have six staff from a single agent's office visit us with another six or seven from another office close behind. We were crowded but they were welcome and we liked their enthusiasm for the business. This year they just haven't come. Apart from missing them we also worry that we have not made our first acquaintance with future managing directors."
EATA's regional marketing director Peter Haworth said, "The need is to find the right balance: probably a format that builds on the Meridian concept with the remaining days for other staff nominated by exhibitors and trade management."
On the Asian front, there was good news for some. For those going to Asia the devalued currencies made the region decidedly cheap. Add to that the heavyweight deals of airlines and hotels, and agents selling inbound to Asia should be smiling. That was the positive message most of the Asian national tourism organisation stands at WTM were spreading.
But many feel there are lessons to be learnt from recent experiences. The fixation in recent years with intra-Asia travel and tourism has put in danger the longhaul inbound markets that are now needed to compensate for the downturn in travel within the region. "Cut your longhaul market advertising and promotion at your peril" is a message that many were too slow to learn.
The haze incident pointed to the need for better crisis management and better overseas media relationships to avoid near hysterical reporting.