
SIXTY Bahrain companies have signed up for the ATM which is bound to “….further boost the country’s market position and portray it as one of the region's best known tourist destinations,” said Information Ministry Tourism marketing and promotion project chief executive Mohammed Nass.
Speaking at press conference at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, Residence and Spa, Nass said tourism in the country was expected to reach new heights in the months to come and the ATM was a platform to make that happen. "There is a great potential for increased outbound and inbound tourism products and services in Bahrain and it is on an upswing all the time."
Leading the Bahrain contingent at the ATM will be its national airline, Gulf Air. Among the other participants are the Information Ministry, Arab Traveller magazine, publishers Al Hilal Group and dedicated information website tradearabia.com.
ATM exhibition director Simon Press said the organisers, Reed Travel Exhibitions, believes that this year's event, with its increased content and product offering, largest seminar programme to date and global exhibitor base spanning over 60 countries will have significant appeal to Bahrain's tourism industry as an important business and knowledge platform.
“The event provides local and internationally-based travel agents, tourism organisations and key industry decision makers a wealth of opportunities to be a part of the latest trends and meet the global thought leaders in a highly flexible, face-to-face environment in which a wide range of sales and marketing objectives can be achieved.”
He said Bahrain has always been well represented at ATM and said they expect the same to be true this year as the local industry continues to realise the need to keep abreast of trends and seize new opportunities.
“With an increasing market proposition and tourism potential, organisers have flagged Bahrain as a high potential market for visitors.”
He said visitor interest for this year's event has been phenomenal and they are extremely optimistic regarding quality and quantity.
“With visitor registrations up on this time last year, many buyers have expressed interest in Bahrain's tourism offerings, with this figure expected to rise as we get closer to the show opening next month,” Press said.