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Strong Middle East contingent

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According to figures from the UN’s World Tourism Organisation, UK tourists continued to flock to the UAE in 2016 – up 5 per cent in Dubai and 3 per cent in Abu Dhabi, despite the pound shedding over 16 per cent of its value against the US dollar since the referendum result to leave the European Union.

There was also a definitive resurgence in Russian visitors (+14 per cent) after the UAE’s implementation of visas-on-arrival.

While Oman saw steady growth in visitors from Europe, with Britain and Germany among the top five tourism generating source markets. GCC nationals topped the number of tourist arrivals, followed by tourists from India, Britain and Germany.

Key exhibitors from the region this year include: Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Ajman Tourism Development Department, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Oman Ministry of Tourism and Jordan Tourism Board. Other new exhibitors from the region include: Solar Empire Travel, Azar Gasht Aseman Ltd., Baghdad Hotel Company and Kurdistan Tourism.

More than 80 conference seminars will take place throughout the three days covering all the key sectors pertinent to the Middle East, including aviation, hotels, wedding and honeymoon, gastronomy, sports tourism, responsible tourism, digital influencers, social media and travel technology.

The 2017 edition of World Travel Market London’s sister show, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), witnessed a 10 per cent increase in visitors from the GCC and a 7 per cent increase in international visitors to the event. For the second year in a row, more than 28,000 visitors attended the show, a 71 per cent increase over the last five years. The 2018 edition of ATM takes place from April 22 to 25 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

 

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