The Big Middle East Report
For the record
With more than 200 exhibitors, Riyadh’s annual travel fair is going from strength to strength
The seventh edition of the Riyadh Travel Fair attracted a record 200 exhibtiors from 50 countries, according to its organiser ASAS Exhibitions.
Billed as Saudi Arabia’s biggest travel and tourism exhibition, the fair was held at the Four Season Hotel Riyadh and inaugurated by Engineer Khaled Al Otaibi, secretary general of the Council of Saudi Chambers. "The 2015 edition is the largest Riyadh Travel Fair to date, thereby extending our prominence as the leading travel and tourism exhibition in the kingdom. Two hundred exhibitors from tourism boards, airlines, tour operators and hotels from 50 countries are currently present in the exhibition. It’s been a year of growth not only for the tourism and hospitality industry in the kingdom, but for Riyadh Travel Fair," said Bander Algryni, general manager, ASAS Exhibitions. "With Saudi nationals increasingly travelling overseas at a greater number year on year, the opportunities that the Riyadh Travel Fair provides for domestic and overseas destinations, hospitality service providers and other tourism related businesses, to directly meet with the kingdom’s leading travel professionals and travellers has never been more significant."The Gulf region had a strong presence at the fair including stands by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Cultural Authority (strategic partner), Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (gold sponsor) and Fujairah Tourism and Antiques Authority (silver sponsor). Turkey Tourism had the biggest presence and delegation attending the show. Exhibitors from Asia, Oceania, Europe and North Africa were also present, along with travel agency and online booking site representatives. The last edition of the Riyadh Travel Fair saw a total recorded number of visitors reach 13,678. Total visitor numbers for the 2015 edition were expected to further increase with a projected number of 20,000 visitors targeted. Visitors were able to interact directly with various tourism authorities, hotels, airlines and travel agents from around the world.