RIYADH, 3 May 2005 — Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) will participate in the Arabian Travel Market 2005 (ATM) to be opened today by Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid Al Maktoum at the World Trade Center in Dubai.
“A total of 22 Saudi companies will take part in a 300 sq. meter pavilion,” Adviser to the Secretary-General for Media Affairs Dr. Mohammed Alheezan said adding that the show had attracted 63 countries from all over the world.
ATM, region’s premier travel and tourism exhibition, is sponsored by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, government of Dubai.
“This year, the Kingdom will focus on tourism, investment, real estate, hotels and Haj and Umrah services,” Alheezan said.
He also pointed out that the Kingdom’s principal cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Makkah, Taif and Hail would be highlighted.
Last year, the exhibition attracted more than 17,000 visitors from 96 countries and Saudi exhibitors clinched deals worth more than SR200 million. This year the organizers are expecting more business deals.
There are over 2,800 travel companies and agencies operating in the Kingdom, representing a total investment of over SR2.8 billion.
Every year millions of Muslims come to the Kingdom to perform Haj and Umrah and to visit the mosque of the Prophet (pbuh) in Madinah.
The Kingdom’s tourism sector has also shown continuous growth and the number of summer festivals has gone up from 12 in 2003 to 22 in 2004 representing a 67% increase.
