INITIAL figures show almost 15,000 visitors attended this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) which attracted 2,182 exhibitors from 65 countries.
The show, which ran from May 4 to 7, in Dubai, UAE, was inaugurated by Dubai’s Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and there was an optimistic mood with all of the region’s tourism chiefs in attendance.
With regional tourism bodies and private sector companies representing a 15 per cent increase over last year’s ATM figures, the Middle East’s tourism industry was looking to capitalise on the region’s growing importance as a major tourist destination.
 |
|
Visitors flocked to the exhitibion |
“The UAE and the wider GCC has a critical part to play in driving forward the international travel industry’s future. Dubai, within that context, continues to be a major player and through the utilisation of top-tier events such as ATM, we are well placed to showcase the emirate’s diverse tourism portfolio to the international community and build strong business bridges that will be pivotal in long-term sustainability,” said Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, director overseas promotions and inward mission, Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, Dubai.
Reed Travel Exhibitions, which organises the four-day event, said buoyant Middle East participation would provide enhanced business opportunities for the global travel industry at large.
“The Middle East tourism market is the fastest growing in the world and provides unparalleled opportunities for businesses from across the globe to highlight their product offerings. The feeling on the show floor was most certainly one of optimism and, through ATM, exhibitors and visitors alike are in a prime position to open up business channels with the industry at large that will prove critical in the short and longer terms,” said Mark Walsh, group exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
 |
|
The crowds were entertained by traditional dancers |
The event saw Reed bring in more than 140 hosted buyers covering a number of sectors such as leisure, golf tourism and Mice. Global players including Expedia, lastminute.com, Tui, Hotels4U.com and American Express all took part and within the GCC itself there was an increase of buyers, almost doubling compared to 2009.
In addition, the seminar programme was doubled for 2010 with the introduction of a stand-alone Debate Room allowing experts from various fields to participate in debates and panel question and answer sessions. This was complemented by the Single Seminar room, hosting an array of industry leaders to discuss a range of topics in-depth such as luxury tourism, hospitality and the TTN-sponsored Ask the Experts PR panel.
Walsh continued: “14,962 (to be audited) visitors attended the show and the strong feedback received on site and post show is that the quality of visitor attending was the highest in recent years.
“Due to the economic challenges being faced, an increasingly senior management demographic is attending ATM strongly focused on doing more business. Also ATM’s increased emphasis on education, for example with seminars and careers day, is very well received helping the travel industry to come together to find various ways to overcome these challenges.”