Arabian Travel market underlines resilience of tourism industry

"Despite the tremendous challenges of the past few months, this Arabian Travel Market 2003 is almost 10% larger in terms of contracted exhibition space than last year," said Tom Nutley, Chairman, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises the annual event.

Arabian Travel Market 2003 - the first major league travel and tourism event to take place after the Iraq war - will feature 783 exhibitors from 55 countries taking up in total 9,000 square metres nett.

"This includes companies which will be housed on numerous national and industry pavilions," explained Nutley. "The final contracted floor space still represents a healthy performance and clearly demonstrates the sheer resilience of this industry which is the world's largest employer.

"This show should rightly be seen as a barometer to the determination of the international tourism industry to rise above all circumstances."

Though directly pre-war and during the conflict, several exhibitors did cancel their participation, Nutley said recent weeks have seen an upturn in bookings.

"We were clearly on course for our targeted floor space sales of 9,600 square metres nett. We have not lost any exhibitor to the SARS threat as Hong Kong withdrew in the run up to the Iraq conflict."

RTE is also confident that it can maintain its visitor turnout which last year saw 11,418 trade, media and consumers from 69 countries attend.

"Pre-registrations this year are up 18% on 2002 which is extremely heartening," said Nutley. "This represents 3,000 visitors from 83 countries."

Arabian Travel Market 2003, which is held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai, has attracted a host of newcomers. Some 60 new stand holders have joined the show.

"These include new national pavilions representing Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan while the Maldives will have official representation after a gap of several years," explained Nutley. Other new-to-market exhibitors represent European limousine operators, technology providers, hotel groups and fractional yacht ownership providers.

"In addition, a number of regular participants have increased the size of their stands - among these are Gulf Air, Kempinski and the organisers of pavilions representing Dubai, Turkey, Switzerland, Malaysia, India and Australia," explained Nutley.

Arabian Travel Market 2003 will also feature a high profile seminar programme, which includes some ground-breaking subjects. The Supreme Commission of Tourism of Saudi Arabia is to host a seminar on 'Umrah Plus,' which is aimed at presenting an informative and explanatory overview of the recently introduced Umrah Plus concept. Meanwhile at its seminar on space tourism, USA's Space Adventures Limited will give tourism industry professionals an opportunity to explore the next travel frontier.

The free-to-attend seminars will be held at Airport Expo Dubai on May 7 and 8. The Arabian Travel Market 2003 seminar programme is being sponsored by the trade magazine Travel and Tourism News and the online service TradeArabia.com.

VIPs due to attend Arabian Travel Market 2003 include: HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin AbdulAziz, Secretary General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, Chairman of the World Tourism Organisation's Executive Board and Russia's Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Trade; H.E. Adel Douiri, Morocco's Minister of Tourism; H.E. Pavel Nemec, the Czech Republic's Minister for Regional Development; the Hon. Vinod Khanna, India's Minister for State Tourism and Culture; the Hon. Dato Kee Phaik Cheen, Penang State Tourism Minister; Mr Chrysis Prentzas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Tourism Authority; H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Jassem Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority; Kuwait's Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism, Mrs Nabila Al Anjari; the Hon. Francisco Xavier Pacheco, Goa's Minister of Tourism and HE Mohsin Bin Khamis Al-Balushi, Tourism Undersecretary for Oman.

Meanwhile 70 of the world's leading travel buyers from within the GCC and the international Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Events (MICE) sector are being hosted to Arabian Travel Market. Many will fly in with Emirates, the show's official airline and they will stay at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, the official hosted buyer property for 2003.

The hosted buyers will meet Arabian Travel Market exhibitors on the first day of the show in an appointment-setting session.

"These appointments can take place in privacy and comfort and, because exhibitors select the buyers they most wish to meet, they are extremely productive," said Nutley.

RTE says it has already begun work on Arabian Travel Market 2004, which will be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from May 4-7.

"We have booked Halls 5, 6, 7, 8, the Boulevard and the Convention Centre for next year when we hope to deliver a show of some 10,000 square metres nett," said Nutley.

"We are optimistic of reaching this target and achieving growth because we are confident of attracting back to the show, countries not present in an official capacity this year, such as France, Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea."

Arabian Travel Market 2003 will also feature an Internet Café, which is based in the West Hall and sponsored by AMEInfo.com, the Middle East's online business resource. The café will have 12 computers all with email access.

Arabian Travel Market 2003 will be open to trade visitors only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning. In Thursday evening and Friday evening, the show will also be open to the public.

This year a charge of Dhs5 will be levied on adults visiting during the public sessions while youngsters under the age of 16 will be allowed in free-of-charge. Visitors producing a Visa card will also be allowed in free of charge.

"This year revenue generated from the entry fees will be donated to a charity which is working on relief in Iraq - a decision on which particularly charity is still to be made," said Nutley. "The entry fees have never been a revenue generating requirement for Reed Travel Exhibitions rather more of a visitor control mechanism."

Opening times of Arabian Travel Market 2003 are as follows:

Tuesday 6th May
11.00 - 18.00 Meridian Club & Trade Visitors

Wednesday 7th May
10.00 - 18.00 Meridian Club & Trade Visitors

Thursday 8th May
10.00 - 20.00 Meridian Club & Trade Visitors
17.00 - 20.00 Public

Friday 9th May
16.00 - 21.00 Meridian Club/Trade & Public