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Mideast Gains Prominence as
a ‘Bright’ Travel Destination

DUBAI — With a weaker economy sapping global tourism demand, countries that earlier ignored the Middle East as a potential source of big-spending visitors are now taking a keen interest in the region as one of the travel industry’s few bright spots.

Tourism authorities in some up-and-coming destinations, eager for business in the Gulf, rented display stands for the first time at this week’s Arabian Travel Market, or ATM. They competed for attention with the more elaborate pavilions of India, South Africa and other countries that already have well-established tourism ties in this region.

Undaunted, the newcomers pitched their less familiar attractions, including mineral water spas in Romania, ancient ruins in Cambodia and 
Nigerian warthogs.

Tourism officials for several emerging destinations told Khaleej Times they were impressed by the positive responses from tour operators and travel agents.

“This is the best show I have been to this year,” said Ang Kim Eang, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents.The ATM was Ang’s sixth show since January. “I’ve met a lot of qualified buyers who are really interested in my country.”

In spite of its violent recent history, Cambodia is now stable, peaceful and welcoming of foreign visitors, Ang said. The Southeast Asian nation boasts sparkling beaches and the vast ruins of Angkor Wat, former capital of the ancient Khmer empire.

Cambodia already has modest commercial links with the Gulf region; Kuwait and Qatar have each invested more than $100 million in Cambodian rice farms. Cambodia recently signed tourism agreements with both countries, and direct flights are planned between Doha, Qatar, and Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh.

Direct flights with Dubai would be a much bigger boost for business from the Gulf, said Plong Thoeun, Cambodia’s Deputy Director of Tourism.

The Arabian region is an important market for outbound tourism and is “not much affected” by the worldwide economic downturn. Large numbers of Arab tourists already visit Cambodia’s neighbours Thailand and Malaysia, “so we should try to get some of them to visit Cambodia,” Plong said.

After sending observers to last year’s ATM, Nigeria decided to open a booth of its own this time. Nigeria has targeted the UAE as one of its main markets for tourism, and this week’s exhibition was “absolutely” a useful venue for Nigeria to spread the word, said Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.

“We want to open a new window to communicate with the entire UAE and Arab world about the potential of Nigeria. We believe the time is right,” he said, adding that the economic crisis was “a wake-up call, in terms ofidentifying our strengths and capitalising on them.” Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, hopes to develop eco-tourism and golfing and other sports activities that appeal to foreigners. With its lions, warthogs and other wildlife, safaris are one of the country’s main attractions.

Nigeria also offers investment opportunities, especially in the hospitality industry, Runsewe said. “As a starting point,” he said, Nigeria hopes to at least $30 million worth of UAE investments in hotels and other tourism infrastructure. Aside from a large and inexpensive labour force, Nigeria also has a cultural advantage that could help it attract business from the Gulf: roughly half of its people are Muslims.

Romania, by contrast, has only a tiny Muslim minority, and many of the Eastern European country’s tourist facilities date from its decades under Communist rule.

However, Romania is rich in Black Sea beaches and natural mineral water spas, and the number of foreigners visiting the country in 2008 increased by 15 per cent over the previous year, said Maria Iordache, Director of the Romanian National Tourist Office in the UK and Ireland.

“We are aware that in this tough economic climate, that figure will not be reached again this year. We feel that the economy is more difficult in Europe and not so bad in this part of the world,” she said this week at the ATM.

Arab tourists tend to spend a lot and travel in large groups Iordache said. She noted that luxury hotels have started to sprout up in Bucharest, Romania’s capital, and said travellers can fly there non-stop from Dubai.

“We thought it was a good idea to come here and test the water and see what happens. So far, we are very happy with the results.”

Iordache said she was “really surprised” by the interest her pavillion had generated among local tour companies at the ATM. Romania’s Ministry of Tourism has just a few offices outside of Europe. The next one to open, she believes, will be in Dubai.

· bruce@khaleejtimes.com