Arabian Travel Market visitor footprint expands

In the first two days of the show, which runs at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) until Friday night, some 9,050 visitors attended - a 4.4 per cent increase on last year.

"Testimonials received from new buyers indicate that more than 57 per cent of pre-registered buyers are new to Arabian Travel Market bringing with them new business contacts for our exhibitors,"

said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director - Overseas Events, RTE.

Media attendance is up seven per cent while 64 per cent of Meridian Club members - a VIP club operated by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organizes ATM and whose members are among the world's top travel buyers - have made repeat visits to the show over the first two days.

"This proves that there are so many products & services on offer at event which is comprehensive and covers all sectors of the tourism sector," said Walsh,

"The geographic catchment of the event demonstrates a particularly healthy turnout from Asia, with India and Pakistan among the top visitor producers. The turnout from Europe has been particularly strong from the UK, Germany and France.

"The African visitor profile is being led by South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Mauritius."

Exhibitors at the show were reporting emerging trends in the business focus of the show, including regional demand for spa breaks and increasing interest in Gulf outbound travel to South America.

Al Karama Ayurvedic and Yoga Centre, which operates in Dubai, said it has met potential hotel partners in Oman, Ras Al Khaimah and Kuwait which could see them operating within those destinations in a matter of months.

"The hotels are looking for us to run spas for them and we expect to have these partnerships confirmed shortly after the show," said Dr. Sathya Narayanan, of Al Karama. "Another trend which has emerged is the increased number of enquiries we have received from European tour operators who are looking to bring groups on 10 day breaks to the UAE with one or two days devoted to health treatments."

Brazil was celebrating an "excellent" show with new business prompted by news that Emirates, the Dubai-headquartered airline, will launch non-stop flights from the emirate to San Paolo in October.

"There has been phenomenal interest from buyers throughout the GCC and India," said Andre Beraha, Department Manager, 'A Taste of Brazil'.

"We are compiling a number of tailor-made packages for a number of individuals but the highlight has been a group booking of 45 people for a two-week stay, received from a Turkish travel agent."

Dubai inbound and outbound wholesaler Total Holidays has reported strong Gulf inbound business from Romania and heavy demand for GCC golf resorts from Thailand.

"We are processing a group booking for 20 people from Romania for a six-nights, seven-day stay in the UAE, while golfing groups of around 30 from Thailand looking a five-to-seven nights stay," said Rashid Al Noori, Chairman, Total Holidays.

Exhibitors from the Syrian pavilion were also upbeat about the business generated from the show.

Firas Tarzibachi, Tours Manager from Panorama Travel Agency said the company received focused interest from visitors wanting to do business with Syria. Even though our stand is at the end of hall we are in, we signed 10 agreements with travel and tour operators from the GCC, UK and even Argentina to bring groups into our country."

Meanwhile, the show will be open to the public on Friday, May 4 at an entry fee for adults of AED20, with accompanied youngsters under 16 and American Express card holders entering free.

The show will be open on Friday from 4pm until 9pm and a percentage of the total entry fee revenue will be donated to 'Just A Drop' - RTE's chosen charity which provides clean water for needy children around the globe.