Travel Show Raises Record £16,600 for Nicaragua Water Project

When thousands of travel industry professionals gathered in London last year, they didn't just talk about destinations. They funded a lifeline for Nicaraguan farming families struggling to access clean water.

World Travel Market London raised £8,300 through exhibitor donations at its 2025 show, then doubled it with matching funds to reach £16,600. The money is now supporting a Watershed Restoration Programme in Nicaragua's Waslala and Camoapa regions, where rural communities face increasing drought and soil degradation.

The program tackles a problem many outsiders wouldn't expect. Though Nicaragua is water-rich overall, decades of civil war destroyed vital infrastructure, and natural disasters have compounded access challenges. Today, 19% of Nicaragonians lack access to safe water.

Watersheds are highland areas that naturally collect and store water before it flows into rivers and basins. By restoring these natural systems, the project helps communities access more groundwater while creating richer soil for crops.

Local partner El Porvenir is leading the work, which includes agroforestry training that integrates trees with crops and livestock. Farmers will learn sustainable land management alongside soil and water conservation techniques. The combination helps families grow food to eat or sell while building long-term resilience against climate challenges.

The Ripple Effect

This single donation represents 28 years of partnership between WTM London and international charity Just a Drop. Together they've now raised over £140,000, supporting 12,574 people across 17 water projects in 9 countries.

The 2025 fundraising total marks the highest donation in the partnership's history, driven by exhibitor generosity and visitor contributions through the registration form. Just a Drop also received free exhibition space to host meetings and raise awareness among attendees.

"Access to safe water changes lives, not only by protecting the health of communities, but also by securing the livelihoods they rely on," said Fiona Jeffery OBE, Just a Drop's founder and president. The watershed project will support families both now and for years to come.

The partnership continues into 2026, with momentum already building toward an even larger fundraising goal at this year's show.