Quoting Euromonitor statistics, the ATM official, said last year Bahrain’s spending on outgoing tourist expenditure reached $677 million in 2009 whilst domestic tourism expenditure totalled only $17 million.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Culture and Information will once again be heading up a contingent of 20 exhibitors representing the country at this year's Arabian Travel Market, which takes place from 4th to 7th May in Dubai.

Addressing a press conference Dr. Heba Aziz, executive director and adviser, Culture and Information Ministry said this year’s show was being widely anticipated within the tourism industry as Arabian Travel Market is a key pillar in the Kingdom’s comprehensive national reform programme to make Bahrain a high-quality leisure and business tourism destination for the outbound markets of the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

“Attending exhibitions gives us the opportunity to introduce Bahrain to potential visitors as an inbound GCC tourist destination in its own right. Currently we have many visitors coming to Bahrain for one day only; we want to encourage them to stay longer and to explore all that this country has to offer. Last year’s Arabian Travel Market was a huge success and I have no doubt that this year will once again prove to give an invaluable boost to our aspirations,” she added.

Mark Walsh, group exhibitions director of Reed Travel Exhibitions, which stages the international show said that historically Bahrain has been a staunch supporter of the Arabian Travel Market and both the government and the private sector have for some time realised the potential it commands as a key business vehicle.

“Both the government and the private sector have for some time realised the potential the Arabian Travel Market commands as a key business vehicle and this year's event is likely to play an even greater role than ever before in helping us all to develop new ways of catering for an ever more demanding tourist.

“The Arabian Travel Market is specifically designed to ignite discussion and debate, and create networking opportunities as well as educate; and as always, we have invested considerable resources in attracting the right type of visitors to the show. This has been exemplified by the number of quality visitors, represented by a senior management demographic.

“The show has firmly established itself as the travel and tourism event for inbound and outbound tourism professionals within the Middle East, attracting industry and government decision-makers at the very highest level; and 2010 is shaping up to be the most important year in the event's 16 year history,” Walsh added.

“Trade visitors from Bahrain will have unrivalled possibilities to identify and pursue outbound and inbound offerings from across the globe.”

“By attracting senior industry players from across the globe to meet with potential partners, our aim is to increase business interaction for all,” said Lucie James, marketing manager, Arabian Travel Market.

“We doubled the size of the show’s seminar program, in which a wide range of industry experts come together in a panel format to share their knowledge and opinions with regard to specific topics. The line-up of discussion forums for 2010 so far include the aviation sector, which due to the success of last years seminar session will be hosted by aviation expert John Strickland, and the hotel collection, which will feature speakers from Shariah compliant hotels, eco hotels and all-inclusive hotels among other added.

Arabian Travel Market 2009 showed an increase of over five percent of Travel Trade Professionals, compared with the previous year, and a 6.5 percent increase in visitors.