Arabian Travel Market expects a strong show this year
The event will attract more than 2,500 exhibitors from 87 countries
Dubai: The Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the region’s leading travel and tourism event, is likely to make a strong mark this year, amid a strong uptake by the tourism industry, when it opens its doors on Monday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
In the last twenty years, from the event’s launch in the early 90s until today, the UAE’s tourism sector witnessed both challenges and unrivalled growth. Dubai welcomed 10 million visitors last year, who stayed at hotels, furnished apartments and cruise ships. In less than ten years, by the year 2020, Dubai will welcome 20 million visitors, and increase the annual contribution made by tourism to the city.
These will include leisure and business tourists from around the world, especially from emerging markets, such as China and India, as well as the UK, Germany, US and Russia, according to Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general at the department of tourism and commerce marketing (DTCM) and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre.
Citing statistics by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director at Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organisers of ATM, said: “The regional tourism map is now incredibly diverse with travel and tourism directly contributing $76.6 billion to GDP in 2013, which is forecast to rise by 4.2 per cent this year alone as ongoing investment into the sector and infrastructure development in key markets supports the dual long term goals of driving visitor numbers and moving towards sustainable economic diversification.”
Last year, the tourism sector contributed 14 per cent to the UAE economy, according to the WTTC.
The event will reflect the growth of the country’s hospitality and tourism industry. From 300 exhibitors 20 years ago, the event will attract more than 2,500 exhibitors from 87 countries, covering over 22,000 square meters.
Bringing together 25 international tourism ministers is the UNWTO/ATM Ministerial Forum, which starts on Tuesday, with a focus on a common growth agenda for tourism and aviation.
From the technology industry, there will be speakers representing Google, TripAdvisor and Amadeus, who will talk on Digital and Technology Day, which is focused on online and travel developments.
Hotels and resorts industry players will be making a big presence at the event as they showcase their projects, and hold debates.
Mövenpick will have 34 hotels participating at ATM, which make up 50 per cent of a total 75 operating hotels, according to Toufic Tamim, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts, Middle East.
Other names in the industry include Accor, The Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Rotana, Anantara and Fairmont, some of which have announced major projects recently.
On the aviation front, some of the big names making a presence include Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and other local airlines. Tim Clark, president of Emirates will be present to address a seminar.
The event runs from May 6 to 9.
