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ATM Kicks Off Today

The presence of 2,100 exhibitors, a line-up slightly smaller than the show’s previous 2008 edition, illustrates Arabian Travel Market’s potential to foster greater business development via enhanced business friendliness and knowledge sharing capabilities, said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibitions Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Walsh said Arabian Travel Market, or ATM, participation and attendance served as a performance barometer for the Middle East tourism industry. “This year’s showing is indicative of the wider picture. There are elements which are outperforming last year’s event, which signals the market is eager to utilise top-tier, business events to help develop new revenue streams and partnerships which will prove critical in facilitating the sector’s resurgence.”

“Despite the ongoing slump in the travel industry worldwide, the 16^th edition of the show has drawn 70 new-to-market representatives, underlining the importance of the Middle East to the industry’s global recovery,” said Walsh.

Speaking at a Press conference to announce the opening of the exhibition, Walsh said: “While we have seen marginal declines in exhibitor numbers and floor-space, we have received only a few cancellations. Much of this is down to the fact that across the globe people are scrutinising their marketing budgets as return on investment become more pertinent.”

Walsh said it would be inappropriate to compare last year’s edition with the current show. “Last year’s event broke all our previous records. The world is a completely different place. However, while we have seen a few cancellations and some exhibitors reducing their commitment in 2009, this has been widely offset by more new comers as well as increased space booking by national tourism organisations.”

The show, billed as the region’s premier travel and tourism showcase, will have nearly 60 national tourism bodies representing six continents, including new-to-market showings from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Nigeria as well as representation from the private sector in Ecuador, Slovenia and San Marino.

Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, Director Overseas Promotions for Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, DTCM, said strong local participation at ATM 2009 reaffirmed the strength of Dubai’s tourism industry.

“In 2008, the tourism sector directly contributed 19 per cent to Dubai’s GDP, and indirectly contributed 32 per cent — up by two per cent over the previous year. As the emirate overcomes the challenges brought about by the economic crisis, it becomes stronger and, as such, is being looked at with greater interest than before.” He said the DTCM, in coordination with hotels, tour operators and tourism companies, has been working on boosting hotel occupancy and increasing the number of visitors to the emirate, a fact illustrated by the department’s enhanced presence at this year’s show.

Ahmed Khoory, Senior Vice-president of Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran, Emirates Airline, said that the ATM was a great platform to showcase the city’s infrastructure, as well as the thriving and diverse travel services available in the marketplace.

Emaar Hospitality Group’s 5-star brand, The Address Hotels & Resorts, would again be the host hotel group for the 2010 show, organisers said.

As part of the new one year contact, Emaar Hospitality Group’s The Address Hotel & Resorts will be the official accommodation provider for the show’s Hosted Buyers programme and select international press brought in for the show.

The 2009 show also boasts an expanded seminar programme, with more than 30 experts discussing a variety of key topics.

issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com