WITH a rising population and increasing disposable incomes especially in the GCC, destinations in Europe as well as Asia are now homing in on the Middle East’s multi-billion outbound travel market, which could top $20 billion within the next 20 years, according to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).
Consistent with that point of view, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012, which takes place in Dubai, UAE, from April 30 to May 3, 2012, has witnessed a surge in enquiries which has culminated in almost 59 per cent of exhibition space already booked.
The WTO reckons that an additional two million Arabs will travel abroad within the next 20 years, taking its total of outbound tourists to 37 million, spending an estimated $20 billion and accounting for 2.2 per cent of global outbound travel, a rise of 0.7 per cent.
“According to the WTO, the average tourist from the UAE spends $22,000 a year on flights and accommodation alone, totalling $6.6 billion annually spent on outbound travel. Saudi Arabia’s market is worth an estimated $4.8 billion,” said Mark Walsh, group exhibition director for Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, ATM 2012 will return to a complete business format, forsaking the consumer element of previous years.