TTN caught up with Bander Algryni, general manager of Riyadh Travel Fair 2014 for all the news on the event’s sixth anniversary.
What are the positive indications that lead you to believe that this year’s edition will be the largest so far?This year’s exhibition marks the event’s 6th edition, and will be held from April 15 - 18 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh. It will also be largest Riyadh Travel Fair to date, confirming the show’s preeminence as the leading travel and tourism fair in the kingdom. The number of exhibitors this year will increase by 18% compared to those present at last year’s event, with a number of companies and national tourism authorities participating for the first time.What is expected to be this year’s visitor count? What was last year’s visitor count?We are expecting a prospective increase of 20% in the number of visitors expected at this year’s event, rising from the nearly 14 thousand visitors recorded in 2013, to the expected 18 thousand visitors this year in 2014.Who are the first-time exhibitors this year?National and regional tourism authorities participating for the first time include those from Mauritius, Sri Lanka, the Maldives ,Vietnam Kashmir, Seychelles, and Bahrain. In fact, exhibitors hailing from Asia, Oceania, Europe and North Africa will all be present this year, along with travel and tourism agencies and online booking site representatives.Between leisure travel and Mice-related travel, which is more prominent at RTF? Can you back this up with exhibitor numbers? In many cases the lines between leisure travel and MICE are blurred, especially among our participating destinations, as most national pavilions and their co-participating DMCs will promote and offer services for both these market segments. For many of the destinations, having Saudi MICE or business travelers coming to their destination is an opportunity they are looking to build on with extended leisure stays or leisure repeat visitors. Likewise, those with predominately leisure travelers are seeking to promote their destination as attractive MICE destinations, thereby extending on their familiarity with the market to provide new layers and service products. Having seen in particular great demand for medical tourism from the Saudi market, we have decided to launch a medical tourism-specific exhibition which will be held later in 2014. Can you comment on the travel trends in Saudi at the moment? Which are the most important feeder markets for the country? Which segments generate most of the business?Inbound tourism to Saudi remains extremely popular from the surrounding GCC and from Muslims around the world especially in the form of Umrah travel. This year, however, the exhibition will also seek to introduce and promote Saudi Arabia’s tourism potential, highlighting the growth in this sector locally, and the services and programs that are on offer to Saudi residents and Gulf tourists alike, whether as domestic or international travelers.With regards to travel trends for Saudis, especially with regards to outbound travel, of course the surrounding region remains extremely popular, however we are finding more and more Saudis wishing to discover the world and new destinations, which is reflective of the variety of participants from continents as far as Asia, Europe, Oceania and North Africa.Actually it’s the uniqueness of the Riyadh Travel Fair to bring together exhibitors, buyers and consumers under the one roof that makes it such a popular event for precisely discovering the trends, opportunities and potential for travel by Saudis. The most important advantages of attending the Riyadh Travel Fair as an exhibitor are the opportunities to meet and do business directly with the Saudi travel trade and industry representatives. The opportunities for business to business development are immense, as the most important buyers from the region are present. The timing of the event also provides an excellent platform to launch new products and packages, as it is held just prior to the peak summer booking season. With both travel professionals and the general public present, the Riyadh Travel Fair is also an excellent testing ground for new products and packages, allowing for instantaneous feedback and reactions from which the seller can then hone and further polish his or her offering based on their evaluation of the market possibilities and evolving consumer trends.