ATM 2014 opens on Monday
Dubai gears up for UAE s Tourism Vision 2020
By William Faria
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – DUBAI – Significant steps have been taken towards achieving the UAE s Tourism Vision for 2020 with strategies set up to promote Dubai globally, experts in the industry revealed on Sunday.
This year s 21st edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) that takes place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday is unique as its going to address Dubai s ability of attracting 25 million visitors by 2020, when Dubai host the mega World Expo.
Speaking to journalists in Dubai Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organisers of Arabian Travel Market said that this year’s 2014 ATM is different and unique from yesteryears as it is heading to secure a number one spot in the global ratings.
Present at the press conference were Walsh, Sheikh Majid Al Mualla – DSVP Commercial Operations Centre, Emirates Airlines; Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM); Ali Abu Monassar, Chairman, The Vision Destination Management and Karim Bizid, General Manager of The Oberoi, Dubai.
The ATM Hosted Buyers Programme is another key feature for exhibitors looking to connect with global buyers with 115 confirmed buyers representing the luxury, cruise, medical and wider leisure markets. Reed Travel Exhibitions will also unveil the new ATM Exhibitor Showcase Theatre, which is located in the middle of the show floor; the ATM Live Wall, which will broadcast live streaming of interviews, panel debates and other show highlights; plus the results of the highly anticipated Visa Affluence Report.
Over 2700 exhibitors companies are confirmed to take part in the four-day event that has attracted 68 country pavilions, with 120 new participants.
The exhibition is rated as the largest single event in the Middle East and Africa region and will have its main focus on luxury, with an ATM Live wall that will stream live coverage of key seminars.
Walsh said that the ATM will be a platform for playing an essential role in tourism and boosting business in readiness for the World Expo 2020.
21000 visitors from at least 157 countries globally are expected during the 2014 ATM event, with 40 seminar and technology theatre sessions will be featured.
Besides showcasing the world’s finest tourism destinations, the event will accommodate a full schedule of educational seminar sessions, business networking opportunities, high level discussions and recognition of 12 months of industry achievement.
This year’s show has grown by 8 per cent since 2013 with a total space of 25,000 square metres, including one extra hall.
"It’s been a year of growth not only for the tourism and hospitality industry in the region, but for ATM; and this year’s showcase will see more than 120 new exhibitors make their ATM debut plus the launch of several exciting new initiatives created especially to expand on key industry trends impacting business in the region today," Walsh added.
Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: "At last year’s ATM the Tourism Vision for 2020 was announced, with the headline target of 20 million visitors per year. One year on, significant steps have been taken towards achieving the target. ATM 2014 provides the opportunity to communicate with the industry to share the successes and outline future plans which will ensure both the continual development of the destination offering and Dubai’s position around the world as a must-visit destination".
Echoing that sentiment, Majid Al Mualla, DSVP Commercial Operations Centre, Emirates Airline, said: "This year’s ATM is special because it is the first since it was announced that Dubai would host Expo in 2020. It is an opportunity to celebrate the travel and tourism industry, which is so fundamentally important to Dubai.
Sharjah will make a strong presence at the ATM 2014 with more than 15 government entities and private sector players, led by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. The emirate is participating in the ATM for the 17th year in the region’s largest specialised travel and tourism industry summit.
Underlining the importance of Sharjah’s participation in the premier exhibition, Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, SCTDA said that the initiative is once aimed at highlighting the various recent achievements of the emirate in the tourism sector -new projects, strategies, plans – and the massive development witnessed by the sector during the past few years
