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‘Travel Agents Day’ to kick off today
DUBAI — Travel agents are set to become the focus of the tourism industry on Thursday, as the Arabian Travel Market kicks off its dedicated ‘Travel Agents Day’ — an initiative designed to foster the latest top-class travel and tourism education among the trading community.
According to the show’s organisers, Reed Travel Exhibitions, travel agents visiting the Arabian Travel Market 2010 have seen a significant increase over previous years — a trend they believe is spurred by the event’s enhanced activity focus for travel professionals.
“Travel Agents Day combines skills learning, product knowledge and great competitions, wrapped up in an informative yet educational package to bolster increased business interaction between tourism bodies and those on the frontline of this industry. Through this scheme, we hope to create long-lasting relationships which greatly benefit the sector going forward,” said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Visitor numbers
The Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event recorded a modest rise on the first day visitor numbers, compared to last year, according to organisers. Reed announced overall first day visitor numbers had risen by one percent over last year’s figures, and more than four per cent over 2008 levels — a clear indication of both the event’s and the Middle East’s strategic importance to facilitating industry recovery. According to organisers, quality visitors — which represent hosted delegates and buyers club members that have considerable on-the-spot purchasing power and decision making capabilities — had risen by more than three per cent, with VIP figures, which includes dignities and ministers, swelling by 12 per cent over 2009 figures.
Walsh said the figures were extremely positive and reinforced the industry’s commitment to supporting the top-tier events in their field to open up enhanced business channels and foster increased industry interaction.
“I think the most promising element to take out of these numbers is that there is a strong desire by the industry as a whole to actively seek out opportunities to increase business revenue streams, discuss and debate our future growth steps and continue to forge ahead despite any challenges they may face,” Walsh said. “For us, it is extremely positive that the quality of visitor continues to increase, meaning there is a genuine desire on the show floor to pursue tangible business avenues — a critical component of what Arabian Travel Market is all about.”
In addition to the show’s new-look, free-to-attend seminar programme, which has doubled in size this year, organisers have also bolstered Arabian Travel Market’s Hosted Buyer Programme – which brings in first time senior representatives to the Middle East. These buyers cover a number of sectors such as leisure, golf tourism and MICE and represent global players including Expedia, lastminute.com, Tui, Hotels4U.com and American Express.
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