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GIBTM 2009 features education programme

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Via a professional education programme GIBTM 2009 will focus on addressing global and regional issues as well as social networking.

The exhibition, which will take place from March 31 to April 2, 2009, will include representation from national tourist organisations, destinations, convention bureau, destination management companies, hotels and hotel groups and specialist service providers representing the Gulf and Middle East region, south and south east Asia, Europe, North Africa and beyond. The 2009 hosted buyer programme will include over 275 pre qualified people from the UAE and the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Graeme Barnett, exhibition director for GIBTM and CIBTM said, “GIBTM 2009 is already 40 per cent ahead on exhibitor bookings from 2008. Business tourism is an emerging market in this region and we are expecting to see an overall 30 per cent growth from last year.”

“While Abu Dhabi and Dubai will have the biggest participation, we hope to see more regional destinations like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain as well as wide range of products and services at the event this year. GIBTM is a meeting place for buyers and sellers to do business, to learn about the industry and to network,” he said.

The GIBTM 2009 hosted buyer programme will see over 275 buyers and planners from the Middle East, Europe and Asia. He was keen to extend three key values to the hosted buyers, namely an online pre-scehdules appointments diary to plan their business, the education programme to train and guide  international buyers on how to do business in the region and the opportunity to expose regional buyers to the international meetings industry organisers. “This year we also have the MPI Gulf meetings and events conference in Abu Dhabi, creating a meetings week along with post event fam tours organised by ADTA,” Barnett added.

Barnett also stressed the importance of educating participants on the meaning of the meetings industry and its economic value, and strongly believes that this will help the exhibition to grow in size. “The first three editions of any exhibition is still in its launch phase and from our point of view the show, now in its third year has huge growth potential,” he said.

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