The World Travel Market Industry Report 2012 asked 1,300 exhibitors and senior buyers from the WTM Meridian Club to rank destinations in order of their potential to be the next travel and tourism powerhouses.
Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Chile, Nigeria and Singapore emerged, leading to the latest industry acronym – the TUSKCNS.
Last year, the report introduced the SLIMMA nations (Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina) as the second tier of emerging tourism economies behind the BRICS powerhouses of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
This year, the SLIMMA nations remain the most important to the global trade after the BRICS. Argentina was the most cited of the SLIMMA countries followed by Mexico, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Among the third tier, Nigeria is highlighted in this year’s WTM Global Trends Report, in association with Euromonitor International.
The reports reveals how the Nigerian film industry – dubbed Nollywood – has lifted the country’s profile, with Africans making use of the no-frills airline routes to visit locations made famous in the movies.
Elsewhere, South Korea’s tourism industry has a strong social media strategy and is hoping that K-Pop – its homegrown rap/electro-pop sound as highlighted by recent number one single Gangman Style by Psy – will help to promote the destination.
