Cooperation between UAE tourism bodies highlighted at GIBTM-2007

The Director of Operations and Marketing at the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Mr. Mohammed bin Khamis bin Hareb, said the success of the inaugural Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition held in Abu Dhabi from March 13 to 15 reflected the cooperation between various tourism bodies in the UAE, especially in promoting and marketing the UAE as a tourism destination.

He said the participation of 30 organisations from Dubai under the DTCM umbrella at the exhibition was in the framework of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for greater cooperation between the emirates in the tourism domain.

The participation in the GIBTM reflects the cooperation between the DTCM and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) which supported the exhibition to tap the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market, said Mr. bin Hareb who is also the Vice Chairman of UAE Executive Committee for Tourism Promotion.

Mr. bin Hareb said Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of ADTA, toured the Dubai Stand and praised the cooperation between the tourism organizations in the two emirates. He also has a word of praise for the Dubai Stand which measured 364 square metres and had a total of 16 booths. There was also a dedicated section highlighting the culture and heritage of Dubai.

The exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) attracted 200 companies and 218 hosted buyers from different parts of the world.

In a survey released during the GIBTM by Reed Travel Exhibitions and MICE International magazine, Dubai scored the highest 84 per cent votes to asserts its pole position as a MICE destination of choice. Factors like the cost, quality of accommodation, quality of service, meeting facilities and venue availability, made Dubai emerge on the top among the 16 destinations surveyed.

The Dubai co-participants include Dusit Dubai, Congress Solution Dubai, Bavaria Executive Suites, Accor Hotels, Novotel Ibis World Trade Centre, Sofitel City Centre, Sofitel The Palace The Old Town, Arabian Travel Market, Habtoor Hospitality, Metropolitan Hotels, SNTTA Emir Incentives and Conferences, Arabian Adventures, Belhasa Global Tourism and Travel, Emirates Hotels and Resorts, Arabian Park Hotel, The Monarch Dubai, and Travco Travel.