Dubailand participates in the Arabian Travel Market

'The AED 18 billion Dubailand will be participating in the regions largest travel, tourism and hospitality exhibition. Such an event can only add value and generate positive awareness towards Dubailand' said Salem bin Dasmal, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Tourism Development Company (DTDC).

Dubai Tourism and Development Company has been established by the Dubai Development and Investment Authority, which launched Dubailand and has been set up to implement, oversee and manage the ambitious project.

Bin Dasmal pointed out that the synergies born out of Dubailand's participation in Arabian Travel Market would only go towards promoting the overall tourism growth in the entire region.

'Our participation in the Arabian Travel Market provides us with a platform where the leaders and decision-makers of the world's top travel, tourism and hospitality industries will be gathered. Participating at the Arabian Travel Market will give Dubailand a chance to showcase its many achievements' bin Dasmal stated.

'The Arabian Travel Market attracts large numbers of trade visitors and top leaders in the world of tourism, travel, hospitality and leisure. The Arabian Travel Market will be an event wherein Dubailand can present highly rewarding opportunities for global entrepreneurs and investors,' bin Dasmal pointed out.

He said Dubai is well on its way of achieving the 15 million tourist target by 2010. 'Just look around you. The city is bursting with activity. Hotels and resorts are booming. We have 5 million tourists coming in every year and we are certain that by the time Dubailand will open, the number of tourists will be phenomenal,' said the DTDC CEO.

ATM organizers say that the number of tourists who came to the Middle East in 2000 increased by nearly 10 per cent to 20 million. This surge is attributed to the major economic development and investment in the area's tourism infrastructure.

With projects such as Dubailand coming up, the World Tourism Organisation predicts that growth in the Middle East's tourism industry will be 50 per cent higher than the world's average by 2020.

Growth in Middle East tourism is forecast to reach an annual 7.1 per cent until 2020, against the world's average of 4.1 per cent.

Arabian Travel Market, now entering its eleventh year, is universally recognised as the leading travel industry event for the Middle East and pan-Arab world.