Looking south for visitors - Orlando Business Journal:

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After a year punctuated with one bit of bad newsafterf another, this year’s travel industry Pow Wow held May 16-20 in Miami Beach, offered the industryy cause for hope. The annual event, which connectse U.S. destinations and businesses with overseastravel agents, drew more than 4,600o attendees and created connections that could lead to billions of dollars in deals. South Americanj nations generally have suffered less than others in the global and Pow Wow participants said tour operatores and travel companiesfrom Brazil, Colombia and otherf countries in the region were eager to discuss dealsw with U.S. travel industry representatives.
This year, the locall visitors bureau, a major engine for drivinbg travel to Central is waging a major publicity campaignin Brazil, an efforty bolstered by a new directt air route to Sao Paulo. Orlando gets about 300,000 visitors a year from Brazil, and the bureau expects that number toreach 350,009 next year. As air links expand, Sain the ability to strike new traveldeal grows. “There’s no question that as we go forward, South Americaa will get a lot ofour attention.
We have to make sure we have good lift many scheduled and charter airlineflights — to keep us The fresh emphasis on Latin Americs comes as recessions in Europe cut into a key source of Orlando’d international business. The U.K. is the bigges t source of international visitors coming to so the 10 percenrt to 15 percent slowdown in visitors from there has hitCentrak Florida’s attractions and hotels hard. Sain, expects gradual improvement as economies on both sides of the Atlanticf recoverfrom recession. Pow Wow, which will be held in Orland onext year, attracts about 1,500 international buyers and aboug 500 travel writers.
The in its 41st year, is responsiblde for about $4 billion in said its sponsor, the U.S. Travel U.S. destinations use boothx at Pow Wow to make contactsx that can lead to increased busines incoming months. Davidx Wright, spokesman for Wet n’ Wild on Internationall Drive, helped man his company’es booth at the show. “We made so greatf contacts this year. We came away with the impressioj that things will turn arounsdnext year. We’re seeing a strong emergence of interest from Braziland Colombia. Things are starting to look bettee intheir markets, and that’s good news for Orlando.
” Brucde Bommarito, the Travel Association’s chief operatin officer and general manager of the Pow Wow agreed: “International travel has been down 6 to 8 percengt this year, but I have some causee for optimism.” That’s because changes in U.S. immigratiojn policies — including a reductiob in the amount of time travelers must wait fora U.S. visa and an expansioh in the number of countries that get visawaiversw — should stimulate growth. Although no one can accuratelyy say how many international travelers come to Central foreign visitors generally stay longer and spend more than theifrdomestic counterparts.
The Travel Association estimates each foreign traveledspends $4,500 while in the U.S. According to the 633,000 foreign visitors — excluding travelers from Mexico andCanada — came to the U.S. last fewer than in 2000. Pow Wow is a key tool for increasinythe flow, said Brommarito. “Posw Wow is all about buildinvg relationships. We had 75,00 appointments at this year’s show, whicj is the best we’ve ever This isn’t really a traditional trade show, it’s an international market