The on-going effects of the Eurozone crisis prompted an increase in exhibitors from Turkey, Morocco and Egypt to the 20th anniversary edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) that begins today and runs until Thursday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The result is a sell-out show.
The latest statistics from organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions reveal a 6 per cent increase in show floor space at the travel event over last year, meaning that more than 22,000 square metres have been booked. In addition there are 27 more exhibition stands than last year and 98 new companies appearing.
Many of the previous exhibitors have increased floor space, with North Africa leading the pack at 20 per cent growth. Europe is up by 36 per cent.
“Exhibitor demand from countries on the Mediterranean coast has been particularly strong this year as the tourism industries in Turkey, Morocco and Egypt turn their attention to the outbound GCC market,” says Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
“GCC travellers with their high disposable income levels are naturally a key target market for Mediterranean destinations, but with traditional Western European source markets facing tough economic challenges, which could cause tourism receipts to decline, the relevance of the GCC markets becomes even more pronounced,” he says.
“We really will have the world under one roof for our 20th edition, with new interest from South America as Peru joins us for the first time as an official destination exhibitor,” says Walsh. “Closer to home we are also joined by Libya this year.”
Industry judges will have to choose a winner from the three destinations finalists for the 2013 New Frontiers Award. Shortlisted are New York State, the Philippines and Pakistan, each of which suffered devastation to their tourism industries after being hit by natural catastrophes. The winner gets $10,000 (Dh 36,730) worth of space at next year’s event.
Mascot of the show Shaheen the falcon (right), makes its appearance for the first time at the event.
With the region as a background, Ministers of Tourism and aviation leaders will gather at the UNWTO/ATM Ministerial Forum tomorrow to set a common agenda for air transport and tourism that allows the industry to fully seize the opportunities for future tourism growth.
The forum will focus on how to remove current obstacles to the growth of aviation and tourism, how to align transport and tourism policies and how to promote connectivity between the Middle East and other world regions.
