TDIM 08 to feature strong Abu Dhabi presence

TDIM (Tourism Development Projects & Investment Market), a new show focussing on the tourism projects market, will take place January 20 to 22, 2008 at the Dubai International Exhibition & Convention Centre. The show is being organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East.

Leading Abu Dhabi companies including Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, Sorouh, Aldar, Tamouh and Al Qudra Real Estate will be joined at TDIM 08 by other major players from the UAE and elsewhere in the region .

The value of tourism projects announced in Abu Dhabi alone has exceeded Dhs305bn so far, accounting for 35% of the UAE total, says a pre-show market survey conducted last year by Reed Exhibitions. According to the survey, Dubai leads the field with Dhs454.45bn worth of tourism projects with Ajman (Dhs47.11bn), Sharjah and Fujairah (Dhs20.95bn), Ras Al Khaimah (Dhs18.35bn) and Umm Al Quwain with (Dhs12.11b) also attracting sizable project investments in tourism..

"The tourism sector is now one of the most important focus areas for ongoing development in the UAE and elsewhere in the region. We have envisioned TDIM as a platform for tourism players to meet, discuss, explore and enter into new partnerships. The show has been designed to facilitate investment flows, knowledge-sharing and networking for all key stakeholders in the tourism market," said Ara Fernezian, Show Manager, at Reed Exhibitions Middle East for TDIM 08.

Major stakeholders in the Abu Dhabi's and the region's tourism and property market have also expressed their support for the platform TDIM presents. According to Dr. Frederic Launay, Board Member, Executive Committee, Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, "TDIM 08 will be an excellent venue for the launch, marketing and promotion of projects where business-to-business meetings can be held with prospective developers and resort, hotel, entertainment and tour operators".

"We are keen to support initiatives such as TDIM which will be a good platform for investors and provide a boost for the region's tourism sector", adds Masood Al Awar, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Sorouh Real Estate, one of Abu Dhabi's leading real estate developers.

Over 63 million square metres of land in Abu Dhabi has been earmarked for development of tourism projects. This represents 11 percent of the total area devoted to tourism and related projects in the UAE. Dubai has allocated over 458 million square metres to tourism projects, with the other emirates accounting for the remaining 37 million square metres of land area.

According to Reed's survey the UAE tops the GCC in terms of land area occupied by tourism projects. It has an area of 558 million square meters under development for tourism projects accounting for more than 75% of the combined land area under development for tourism in the GCC.

A total of Dhs1 trillion has been committed to tourism-related projects in the GCC. Of this, the UAE accounts for Dhs858bn or 85% of the total tourism project investments in the GCC. Oman, with AED 61 billion in tourism project investments, and Qatar, with Dhs31.1bn, occupy the second and third slots among GCC countries. Bahrain (Dhs20.77bn), Saudi Arabia (16.44bn) and Kuwait (12.67bn) have also managed to attract significant investments into tourism project development. The figures exclude infrastructure costs such as power plants and transport networks.

TDIM is being organized with the support of DTCM (Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing - Government of Dubai) and WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council). TDIM sponsors include Nakheel, Dubai World Central (DWC), Emirates Airlines, Falcon City of Wonders and Dubailand.