Surveys show that Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands both individually together represent an upcoming market in a broad sense. The destinations have unique nature, tranquility and friendly inhabitants in common, but they also represent three different worlds.

The 31. Vestnorden Travel Mart takes place October 4.-6. in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland and it’s now open for registration. Since the beginning in 1986 Iceland has hosted the event every second year, whereas Greenland and the Faroe Island organize the trade show every fourth year

Vestnorden Travel Mart is the most important business-to-business trade show in the North Atlantic region, where major representatives from the three nations in the High North present their unique products for international buyers from the professional travel industry.

New opportunities
“The goal for the Vestnorden Travel Mart is to establish new travel trade opportunities as well as reinforcing established relationships with the key actors in the tourism field of the three destinations, says organizer Inga Hlín Pálsdóttir, Director, Tourism and Creative Industries of Promote Iceland.

The trade show of Vestnorden Travel Mart offers an extensive professional introduction to the products of the three destinations, whether it concerns natural, cultural or adventure experiences. As this year’s event takes place in Iceland the majority of exhibitors are Icelandic companies.

But there will also be representatives from both Greenland and the Faroe Islands, who proudly present the highlights of their destinations. Apart from the concentrated trade show there is a great opportunity for the buyers to discover the three destinations on their own as pre and post tours are arranged.

Win-win situation
– We see the trade show as a valuable venue each year for suppliers of the three destinations as well as the buyers to connect with new contacts and businesses and strengthen the ties with the three countries, Inga Hlín Pálsdóttir says.

Every year the organizers are working hard to improve the event. There has been raised some critic voices over the mismatch between buyers and sellers. A new list of invited potential buyers is produced, and Inga Hlín says, that is not a question of numbers but quality of the buyers.

This means that companies, who haven’t got an invitation, but take interest in having Iceland, Greenland or the Faroe Islands in their catalogue, should sign up for participating in Vestnorden Travel Mart. Those, who have received an invitation, probably already have decided to go to Iceland in the beginning of October.