SENIOR industry figures at the Arabian Travel Market 2009, which ran from May 5 to 8, predicted that the region would defy the current global economic conditions of the travel industry and record solid growth.
Among the international and intra-regional hotel operators, airlines, car rental companies and government delegations at the trade show was flyDubai – the emirate’s first low cost airline which launched on June 1.
Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO said, “Arabian Travel Market is a very exciting show and it always reflects the temperaments of the current business environment. It’s nice to see such a positive atmosphere during the show and it is great to see all these people committed to the United Arab Emirates.”
Emirates airline’s divisional senior vice president Corporate Communications, Boutros Boutros said, “This year, for Emirates airline, we did some serious business at the show. It is difficult to compare to last year’s show as we are now in a different environment, although business has exceeded our expectations. Our stands have been utilised by serious business visitors and we have received a positive amount of enquiries.”
Qatar Airways – which is launching six additional routes in 2009 and receiving new aircraft on an average of one per month – was also upbeat about this year’s show, and Rached Arfaoui, district sales manager, Qatar Airways, felt that the quality of participants and visitors at ATM was consistently high and they had successfully raise awareness of their products and additional routes.
Among the150 plus hotel operators at the show held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre was Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, which also found the quality and number of visitors to be high, despite a softening market and weakened demand, according to Brennan Berry, sales coordinator, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
“This year is very much a watershed moment for the industry as a whole and to see such strong exhibitor and visitor numbers here in the Middle East is testament to the region’s reputation as one of the world’s fastest growing and most dynamic markets. We’re very pleased with the reaction to the 2009 event we see it as a very strong platform towards 2010 where we hope to see a complete industry recovery,” said Mark Walsh, group exhibition director with organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions.
“We have already begun receiving bookings for next year, which is extremely encouraging, and we have a number of new initiatives debuting in 2010 which will further increase the show’s standing as the premier setting for the travel sector to conduct Middle East business.”
There were more than 2,100 exhibitors and stand-sharers at this year’s show, from 69 countries, including 70 new to market representatives, as well nearly 60 national tourist bodies including debutants from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Nigeria, as well as first time representation from the Ecuadorian, Slovenian and San Marino private sectors.
The show also saw delegations led by senior government ministers, from a host of international and Middle East nations and states, including Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Cyprus, Bahrain, Kenya, Kuwait, Spain, Indonesia, Jordan, South Africa, Argentina, Romania, India, Morocco, Greece, Thailand, the Philippines and Nepal.