ARABIAN Travel Market (ATM) has unveiled a new format to its four-day event, introducing an extra day of business, while still maintaining a dedicated consumer session.
The 2011 show will open a day earlier running from Monday to Thursday May 2 to 5, with new opening times creating an extra day of business on Thursday followed by a dedicated consumer session later the same day between 3pm and 9pm.
“We have decided to change the format of the show after a survey revealed the majority of participants wanted more time to explore business opportunities, while also retaining a consumer element. The new format accommodates that request,” said Mark Walsh, group exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
“Although business will always be the key driver of the event, consumers still provide valuable end-user feedback and key insight for industry professionals.”
The largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world, this year’s event welcomed 2,236 exhibitors covering more than 20,000 sq m and attracted 22,000-plus visitors.
According to the World Travel Organisation (WTO), the travel industry witnessed seven consecutive months of growth to the end of April this year. Indeed the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from January to April 2010 grew to more than 258 million, a seven per cent year-on-year increase, and during the same period the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a six per cent growth in air transport.
The WTO’s 2020 tourism vision forecasts that the Middle East region, which currently receives 36 million visitors, will attract 69 million tourists by 2020, an average growth rate of 6.7 per cent.
As such, the GCC region and in particular Dubai, has continued to invest heavily in tourism infrastructure. According to Dubai-based research company, Proleads, there are currently more than 470 active hotel projects (those not completed, on-hold or cancelled) in the GCC countries, 258 of which are in the UAE. In fact $1.7 billion will be spent on hospitality projects throughout the Gulf this year.