ATM to open its doors in Dubai today

DUBAI / WAM

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2016, the region’s leading travel industry showcase, opens its doors on Monday for four days of business networking opportunities, insightful seminar sessions, leadership forums, and recognition of 12 months of industry achievement.
Now in its 23rd year, the 2016 edition, which takes place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from April 25-28, will welcome 423 main stand holders representing 86 countries, with more than 26,000 visitors expected to attend the Middle East’s longest running and largest trade event.
The show has added an extra hall for 2016, with over 2,800 exhibiting countries, 64 national pavilions, and over 100 new exhibitors set to make their ATM debut.
“The region faces a triple challenge in attracting leisure and business travellers with the triumvirate of service, experience and value all key to developing sustainable tourism economies in an increasingly diversified sector. This has been the catalyst in focusing our attention on mid-market tourism this year, as Middle East destinations look to diversify their source markets and attract a larger volume of visitors as well as look to increase the loyalty quotient in an extremely competitive market environment,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, Exhibition Manager, Arabian Travel Market.
“This has been identified as both an underdeveloped and potential growth area for the region, driven by demand from the growing middle class markets such as China, India and Africa combined with budget Generation Y travellers and young families,” she added.
“As ever, this year’s showcase leads the way in terms of market insight and information exchange with targeted features designed to directly address current market-changing issues. These include the prestigious ATM Leaders Breakfast, on 27th April, which will bring together 100 heads of private sector travel organisations to discuss regional challenges, opportunities and future landscape. Plus, looking at the digital media landscape and opportunities there, we are excited to debut our ATM Bloggers’ Speed Networking session at which up to 25 travel bloggers will take part in mini-meetings with exhibitors to explore ways to work together in the future,” said Noblet-Segers.
Other new features at this year’s event include the Wellness & Spa Lounge, a dedicated space for 25 exhibitors designed to connect Middle East wellness and spa buyers with international suppliers; and the launch of the Travel Agent Academy, which will take place on the final day of the exhibition.
“As Dubai’s dynamic tourism proposition continues to be expanded and enhanced, not least with the opening of 16 new tourist attractions in 2016, including theme parks, Dubai Opera House, green spaces and retail destinations, we continue to actively leverage the city’s growing global appeal among a diverse range of traveller segments. Essential to our success is the ongoing collaboration between and collective contribution of government and private stakeholders, and ATM is an ideal opportunity to cement these partnerships, build new ones and effectively engage with the global travel industry,” Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing
“Today we connect Dubai and the UAE to over 150 destinations with non-stop flights, including to exciting cities outside of the traditional international airport hubs; and we will continue to help introduce new markets and segments into Dubai and the UAE utilising a younger fleet, equipped with the latest generation of products and technology,” said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.