DUBAI, 2 May 2006 — The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2006 has registered continued strong growth with 39 percent more occupied floor space than last year and over 1,750 exhibitors from 59 countries.
“Since the show was first launched in 1994 we’ve repeatedly recorded growth averaging 10 percent per annum. This year the demand has continued and guarantees our 13th ATM to be a success,” said Tom Nutley, chairman, RTE.
“The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has the largest stand in the show’s history covering a 1,034 square meters area, an increase of 72 percent from 2005. The Greek National Tourism Organization has increased its stand size by 143 percent this year and Argentina has increased its presence by 192 percent,” he said.
“This year we’re welcoming new countries as first time exhibitors including Japan, Poland, Ireland and Ethiopia among the 50 official organizations from 59 representative countries.
“Year on year we can repeatedly say we’ve experienced our biggest and best show, and 2006 looks set to smash the records all round. The continued surge in growth is resulting from demand in both the inbound and outbound sectors,” Nutley added.
“Recent World Tourism Organization statistics predict that travel and tourism will generate $148 billion worth of activity in the Middle East alone this year, accounting for 9.6 percent of GDP and 4.59 million jobs, 10.1 percent of total employment. Within the UAE, travel and tourism activity is expected to grow by 4.4 percent per annum in real terms between 2007 and 2016,” said Nutley.
“This year’s ATM is more significant to Dubai than the previous events as the exhibition comes at a time when Dubai’s booming hospitality industry reported high levels of growth in 2005, both in terms of guest numbers reaching a record 6.2 million and revenues touching AED8.8 billion,” said Khalifa Ali Buamaim, manager, overseas promotions, DTCM.
This year, DTCM has its largest ever stand measuring 801 sq m, 29 percent bigger than last year, with 70 booths and 124 co-participants.
Trade visitors from 106 countries have pre-registered for the show including a high percentage of international travel and tourism industry buyers.
More than 100 of the world’s leading travel buyers from within the GCC and the international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector are being hosted at ATM. ATM 2006 also benefits from a packed free-to-attend educational program including an increased number of seminars due to demand from the travel and tourism trade. The 11 seminars are being held on May 3 and 4, exploring a range of industry topics.
Two of Dubai’s leading annual tourism marketing initiatives — Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises — are sponsoring the media center, which is expected to host around 800 media representatives.