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| Arabian Travel Market 2012 |
The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012 finished yesterday 3rd
May on a high note. It reported visitor numbers were up 7-10% on the 2011 attendance
figures, with new impetus driven by regional industry performance and renewed
B2B focus.
“The 2011 event attracted over 16,000 trade visitors and
indicators for this year show an increase of between 7-10%,” said Mark Walsh,
Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
The Arabian Travel Market is the region's leading trade
exhibition for travel industry professionals. The 2012 19th edition of the show
has seen a significant rise in decision makers and influencers – up by 35% -
from members of its buyers club, hosted delegates, regional and international
speakers and hosted luxury travel buyers.
“The initial figures from this year’s show are an
endorsement of not only Arabian Travel Market’s continued relevance and
structured focus to the regional travel market, but mirror the rebound in both
confidence and business levels across the major industry sectors,” remarked
Walsh.
Independently ABC-audited, ATM 2012 also recorded a 7%
increase in exhibitors for this year’s event ahead of the start of the show,
with more than 21,000 square metres of floor space hosting over 2,400
exhibitors and 82 new companies. This increase was also reflected in its
international reach with 54 national pavilions and 87 countries represented
overall.
“The business buzz is definitely back, the regional travel
industry is in an exceptionally buoyant mood and participants are positive and
confident. Our decision to reconfigure the floor plan to a more easily
navigable and convenient format this year has also helped to facilitate busier
appointment schedules,” said Walsh.
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| Arabian Travel Market 2012 |
Walsh’s comments were echoed by a wide variety of
participants, both regional and international, inbound and outbound, right
across the industry spectrum. “This is my second year as a visitor and the new
layout is definitely easier to navigate. Our focus was the expanding
opportunities in apartment accommodation, and I was very impressed to find an
entire section dedicated to this,” said Cori Terblanche, Travel World, South Africa.
“If we look solely at the European exhibitors for example,
floor space has grown from last year and we have seen a surge in interest from
destinations eager to attract the affluent Middle Eastern traveller,” added
Walsh.
Tamara Khalil, Group Director Marketing, Katara Hospitality,
in Qatar,
reinforced the renewed wave of business optimism. ”ATM was the right platform
for us to launch our new corporate identity to the market. The show remains the
prime vehicle for the regional industry to share its news, network with the key
players and meet potential partners.”
This sentiment was echoed by global exhibitors. US-based
tour operator, and first time exhibitor, TeamAmerica CEO, Enzo Perretta, said:
“ATM is the only way to go to reach the Middle East
and Asian markets, and we’ve had four full days during which we’ve met the key
players and decision makers in our target markets.”
“ATM gives us access to high quality Middle Eastern contacts
and allows us to conduct face-to-face business, which is highly valued by our
regional clients,” added Ahmad Alkatib, Director, Travellanda UK.
The newly introduced Technology Theatre, which ran
throughout the four-day show, proved to be a major draw for industry
professionals looking to capitalise on market opportunity through the
implementation of groundbreaking technologies and new social media channels.
“Not only have we signed a number of new contracts on site,
but we have also concluded a number of significant partnership agreements that
would not have otherwise been possible,” said Osama Abdulrahman, Manager of
Dubai-based cheaperskies.com.
“Being host hotel for this year’s ATM gave us invaluable
face time with hosted buyers as well as the opportunity to introduce targeted
top international travel writers and key members of the regional media to our
property,” added Andrew Hughes, Director Sales & Marketing for the
Mövenpick-managed Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel.
“Looking ahead to 2013, re-bookings are already extremely
positive and we will continue to develop the show’s offering to reflect
regional opportunities as well as global industry trends. Next year ATM will be
20 years old and we are certainly in celebratory mood already,” concluded
Walsh.
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| Arabian Travel Market 2012 |
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime
Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. Now approaching its 20th year, the show
has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of
the biggest in the world.
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