Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is an exhibition dedicated to the international travel and tourism industry, which will be held at the Airport Expo Dubai from May 6-9. ATM is a travel industry event for the Middle East.
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) with 80 co-participants will showcase the emirate's amenities and facilities to a wide scale of decision makers and serious visitors from various sectors, at the ATM, which is in its 10th year. The Dubai stand, which is 460 sq m is the largest in the event and has everything, which promises to make the emirate an all round destination. Dubai will be hosting the annual IMF/World Bank Conference in September 2003 (Dubai 2003). This confirms its position as a most preferred MICE destination in the region. New initiatives of Dubai Convention Bureau and Dubai Convention Centre will be announced. These are to support the increasing demand of MICE tourism in the emirate. New initiatives of Dubai Convention Bureau and Dubai Convention Centre will be announced. "We will be reconfirming our position as the sports capital of the Middle East, by highlighting our golf clubs extensively," said a spokesperson. "Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race will be prominently highlighted. A variety of other sport events are also on our agenda, whose details will be given at the Dubai stand at ATM." Shopping is one of the greatest attractions for visitors. Modern Dubai is shoppers' paradise with its bright, luxurious malls having all the well-known brands. Since shopping is one of the most indulging of activities with visitors, malls in Dubai have undergone massive renovations that should meet and even surpass the visitors' expectations. "When we talk about shopping, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises have to be mentioned. Similarly Dubai state-of-the art hotels will display their facilities at the Dubai Stand. The stand space compared to last year's 360 sq m is 460 sq m, which is the biggest ever space take by the DTCM in any of its exhibitions regionally as well internationally. This time DTCM is participating with a strong team of 80 co-participants, which last year numbered only 30." Established in 1997, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has two main areas of responsibility. The first of these includes all the functions of the former Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board (DCTPB), which had been in existence since 1989 and concentrated on the international promotion of Dubai's commerce and tourism interests. The DTCM's second main area of responsibility is to assume a broader role as the principle authority for the planning, supervision and development of the tourism sector in the emirate. Underlining the importance attached to tourism development at the highest level, the DTCM's Chairman is General, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister. The department is headed by the director general Khalid A bin Sulayem. In carrying out its marketing responsibilities, the DTCM plans and implements an integrated programme of international promotions and publicity activities. This includes exhibition participation, product shows, marketing visits, presentations and roadshows, VIP and executive missions, familiarisation and assisted visits, advertising, brochure production and distribution, media relations and enquiry and information services.