Banksy’s Walled Off hotel in Palestine will be promoted this week at World Travel Market London with a piece of art modelled on the separation barrier between Palestine and Israel, if the elusive artist’s Instagram account is to be believed.
The underground star, who shocked the art world by having one of his prints self-destruct just after it had been sold at Sotheby’s last month, announced on Friday that he would be displaying the replica separation barrier at the international trade show, the largest of its kind in the world with some 50,000 travel trade visitors in attendance conducting £3.1 billion in business deals.
The Instagram post, which came along with a picture of the work to be displayed said: “Opening my first ever stall at a trade fair next week… We’ll be at the Palestine stand, World Travel Market, London Excel centre November 6th-7th November.”
The Bristol-based artist opened the Walled Off hotel in Bethlehem in March 2017, claiming it offered “the worst view of any hotel in the world, thanks to its location overlooking the 400-mile wall that cuts through the West Bank and divides Israel and Palestine”.
Paul Nelson of World Travel Market said: “The fact that an artist of Bansky’s standing is using World Travel Market London to promote the Walled Off hotel illustrates just how big a draw the event is for the global travel industry.
“Like everyone else, we are in the dark about exactly what he has planned… but we are as excited as anyone to find out.”
World Travel Market London takes place at the Excel Centre, London from November 5th-7th.
It is an event for travel trade professionals only.