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After a year punctuatedr with one bit of bad newsaftef another, this year’s travel industry Pow Wow held May 16-20 in Miami Beach, offered the industry caus for hope. The annual event, which connects U.S. destinations and businesses with overseastravel agents, drew more than 4,600 attendees and created connections that coulrd lead to billions of dollars in South American nations generally have sufferedf less than others in the global recession, and Pow Wow participant s said tour operators and travel companies from Brazil, Colombia and other countries in the region were eagerf to discuss deals with U.S. travel industru representatives.
This year, the local visitors bureau, a major enginwe for driving travel to Central is waging a major publicity campaignin Brazil, an efforr bolstered by a new direct air route to Sao Orlando gets about 300,000 visitors a year from Brazil, and the bureahu expects that number to reacj 350,000 next year. As air links expand, Sain the ability to strike new traveldeals “There’s no question that as we go South America will get a lot of our We have to make sure we have good lift — many schedulex and charter airline flights to keep us connected.
” The fresh emphasisx on Latin America comes as recessions in Europer cut into a key source of Orlando’s international business. The U.K. is the biggesty source of international visitors comingto Orlando, so the 10 percent to 15 percent slowdown in visitors from therre has hit Central Florida’s attractions and hotels hard. however, expects gradual improvement as economies on both sides of the Atlantic recover from Pow Wow, which will be held in Orland o next year, attracts about 1,500 international buyeras and about 500 travel writers. The in its 41st year, is responsible for about $4 billiojn in deals, said its sponsor, the U.S. Travel U.S.
destinations use booths at Pow Wow to make contactds that can lead to increased busines incoming months. David spokesman for Wet Wild onInternational Drive, helped man his company’ws booth at the show. “We made so great contacts this year. We came away with the impressionj that things will turn arounsdnext year. We’re seeing a strongv emergence of interest from Brazil and Things are starting to look betteer intheir markets, and that’s good news for Orlando.
” Bruc Bommarito, the Travel Association’s chief operating officere and general manager of the Pow Wow agreed: “International travel has been down 6 to 8 percenyt this year, but I have some cause for That’s because changes in U.S. immigration policies including a reduction in the amount of time travelers must wait fora U.S. visa and an expansioh in the number of countriess that get visawaivers — should stimulatre growth. Although no one can accuratelh say how many international travelers come to Central foreign visitors generally stay longer and spend more than theiedomestic counterparts.
The Travel Association estimate each foreign travelerspends $4,500 while in the U.S. Accordinfg to the association, 633,000 foreign visitore — excluding travelers from Mexico andCanadza — came to the U.S. last fewer than in 2000. Pow Wow is a key tool for increasinhthe flow, said Brommarito. “Pow Wow is all aboutg building relationships. We had 75,000 appointments at this year’x show, which is the best we’ved ever done. This isn’t reall a traditional trade show, it’s an internationap market place.
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