ATM To Reboot Regional Tourism

The event will welcome more than 20,000 visitors and over 1,500 exhibiting companies. 112 countries will be featured on the show floor ranging from Japan to Jamaica and South Africa to Italy

Tourism professionals from around the world will return to Dubai next week when Arabian Travel Market, the leading event for the travel industry in the Middle East, returns to the Dubai World Trade Centre on Monday, 9th May.

The event will welcome more than 20,000 visitors and over 1,500 exhibiting companies during the four-day tourism showcase, which concludes on Thursday, 12 May. 112 countries will be featured on the show floor ranging from Japan to Jamaica and South Africa to Italy. Industry professionals will have the opportunity to meet and discuss the latest trends from a cross-section of travel, including technology, transport, sustainability, events and business.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “Arabian Travel Market 2022 will reiterate the importance of the travel industry as we continue to address the challenges of COVID-19 while also outlining how we drive the industry forward.

“The tourism industry has rebounded incredibly well. As a result, we have seen a clear uptick in participation, with floor space increasing by over 85% compared to the previous year and Middle East exhibitor space eclipsing 2019 levels. We now have the perfect opportunity to hear from industry professionals on the latest trends helping the industry recover and flourish in many instances.”

In line with this year’s theme of ‘The future of international travel and tourism’, ATM 2022 will unveil new technology that will eliminate the need for business cards and allow exhibitors and visitors to share details, brochures and marketing material via innovative scanners and badges.

Further underscoring the technology focus is the revamped and rebranded ATM Travel Tech event, previously called Travel Forward.

A host of exciting sessions will take place, including the vision for the NEOM and its strategy for creating memorable experiences by Andrew McEvoy, Managing Director of Tourism, NEOM. Elsewhere on the agenda, Zeina Dagher, CEO Emaar Entertainment, will look at the future of visitor attractions, traveller trends, and what’s next in distribution, attraction tech and the guest experience.

The inaugural ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition, which was launched earlier this year, will see 15 travel, tourism and hospitality start-ups pitch for US$500,000 of funding and potentially a further US$500,000 of investment as part of the hit TV show, Meet the Drapers.

Making their debut at the live show, ARIVALDubai@ATM forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will focus on current and future trends for tour operators and attractions.

ATM will also include in-depth buyer forums dedicated to India and Saudi Arabia, live interviews with aviation and hospitality experts and will feature the return of ILTM Arabia with its focus on the lucrative luxury travel market.

Capitalising on the growth of regional tourism investment, the ITIC-ATM Middle East Summit – hosted jointly by ATM and the International Tourism Investment Conference (ITIC) – will spotlight access to project finance in the post-Covid era and include a high-profile ministerial session.

Building on the success of ATM’s hybrid approach during the global pandemic, this year’s in-person event will be followed by the third instalment of ATM Virtual, which will take place from Tuesday, 17th to Wednesday, 18th May 2022.

Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Since reopening to the global market in July 2020, Dubai has never looked back. We have been able to build on this momentum year on year, leading to a hugely successful Expo 2020 Dubai. And ATM comes when the rest of the world wants to be a part of this remarkable journey with Dubai.”

The current edition of the event offers industry professionals worldwide the chance to explore long-term opportunities in sectors such as travel, transportation, tourism, hospitality, events, and attractions, the statement added.

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“With Dubai continuing to lead the recovery of the international business events sector, it is also important that we recognize the steadfast support of all our stakeholders, which has further enhanced the trust that international travelers have placed in the city,” Kazim added in the statement.

Attracting nearly 400 percent growth year-over-year, ATM Travel Tech, formerly Travel Forward, is one of the main highlights.

ATM Travel Tech Stage will host a selection of seminars, debates, and presentations on the long-term trajectory of Middle Eastern tourism and the latest travel technology products and services, according to the statement.

As part of the event, attendees will have an opportunity to explore trends and potential opportunities within India and Saudi Arabia.

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