UAE companies in full force at WTM

Dubai: More than 400 exhibitors from the Middle East are participating in the World Travel Market (WTM) — the world's second biggest travel and tourism gathering — at London's ExCel that starts on Monday and continues till November 12. London Mayor Boris Johnson is expected to inaugurate the event.

ExCel London is part of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

More than a third of the participants are from the UAE — the region's largest tourism market. These include 78 participants from Dubai and more than 50 from Abu Dhabi, led by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), respectively.

Staged annually in London, the WTM is a four-day business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and international travel professionals. Last year, 49,963 visitors attended the event.

This year, WTM celebrates its 30th year, which also reflects Dubai's 20th year participation.

"The industry has many challenges ahead, and World Travel Market will provide a unique platform to help the industry improve, adapt, and change. Sustainability is now firmly at the top of the corporate agenda. Every company and organisation must seriously consider their impact on the world," Fiona Jeffery, WTM chairman said in a statement.

"In the build-up to the next Olympics, the international travel industry is playing an important role in helping people from across the world to visit the UK for the world's greatest sporting event

Meanwhile, Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), will lead a delegation from Sharjah at the WTM that includes members representing various official institutions — Al Qasba Development Authority, Sharjah Airport Authority, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency, Radisson Blue Resort and Hotel, Coral Beach, and Orient Tours.

"The challenges faced by the tourism sector require us to combine our efforts and available resources to achieve our set goals. As such, all tourism-oriented institutions and establishments are working as a team to introduce Sharjah as a leading tourism destination," Shaikh Sultan said in a statement.

"Sharjah is a favourite destination among European tourists, with 33 per cent of the total tourist flow to the emirate coming from Europe. This shows the significance of Sharjah's tourism products in the European market, as well as Sharjah's distinct place as a leading tourist destination in the world."

The UK and Ireland combined is the largest source market for the Dubai tourism industry with 854,601 visitors in 2008, an increase of 14 per cent over the previous year, DTCM said.

In the first half of 2009, 383,197 visitors from the UK and Ireland stayed in Dubai hotel establishments.

The number of UK passengers using Dubai Airport in 2008 was 3.55 million, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year. The value of trade between Dubai and the UK jumped 77 per cent last year.

Mubarak Al Muhairi, director-general of ADTA, said, "Overseas promotion is a key strategic business priority of ADTA's five-year plan 2008-2012 which looks to achieve 2.7 million hotel guests a year by 2012 - 1.25 million more than the annual guest stay achieved last year. This managed approach to growth holds out substantial opportunity to the travel trade and hospitality investors who are looking to play a role in the advancement of Abu Dhabi into an internationally recognised business and leisure destination."