Biggest-ever participation by Abu Dhabi at Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2008)

The Abu Dhabi Stand (UAE 430) is located in Hall 2 of the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The region's biggest B2B tourism and travel event is expected to attract about 25,000 visitors from over 100 countries.

The stand features 34 booths and seven corporate corners, offering opportunities for 72 companies from the emirate's burgeoning tourism industry to showcase the best of Abu Dhabi in hospitality.

The corporate corners at the stand have been allocated to Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi Airports Company and Tourism Development and Investment Company. The Heritage and Cultural Zones will provide the visitors glimpses into the emirate's rich history and traditions.

Mr. Ahmed Hussein, ADTA Deputy Director General for Tourism Operations, said: 'The significant increase in the size of our stand at the ATM and our co-partners amply demonstrates our commitment and keenness to develop tourism as a key contributor to the economy and to offer visitors unique experiences.'

'Our concerted drive in different parts of the world has helped promote and market Abu Dhabi as a business and leisure destination. This ATM also, we will be able to strengthen awareness about our tourism product and the facilities we are building for tourism industry and what the tourism world can expect from the emirate,' he said.

He said the ATM-2008 will help attract world's attention on the public-private sector collaboration in developing tourism in Abu Dhabi and the scale and diversity of the emirate's tourism strengths.

Mr. Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Head of ADTA's Media Relations Section, said:' There is strong global media interest in Abu Dhabi and we consider media as our partner in promoting the emirate and creating better awareness about Abu Dhabi and its tourism product and programmes. ATM-2008 will be another great opportunity to network with the media and put across our message strongly about our present and future agenda.'

The Abu Dhabi government is developing tourism to make it a key contributor to the emirate's GDP. Abu Dhabi is targeting to receive more than 2.7 million visitors by the year 2012 - about 300,000 more than originally envisaged - and plans to have in place 25,000 hotel rooms, 4000 more than the earlier plans. Abu Dhabi hotels played a host to 1,450,000 guests in 2007, up by 8% compared with 2006.