Buyers fly into ATM to stake claim to islands at The World

The sale of the islands was launched at ATM and Wahid Attalla, Director, Commercial and Operations of Nakheel, developers of The World, said interest at the show has been 'fantastic.'

'We had three individuals at our stand who had jumped on planes and flown out to ATM from as far away as Europe as soon as they heard the islands were on sale,' he said.

'These are very serious enquiries for islands that cost between Dhs23 million and Dhs135 million.'

Attalla added: 'Our stand has been incredibly busy. The World is proving very popular and there is a lot of interest from across the globe for this offshore development. This has definitely been our most successful ATM.'

Arabian Travel Market 2004, is the biggest in the 11-year series with more than 1,400 exhibitors from 55 countries.

The show, which closes at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Friday night, has been generating a host of business opportunities for exhibitors.

Vita Tours, the Umm Al-Quwain-based outbound and inbound group handler and VIP and incentive travel company says it signed five contracts on the first day of the show.

Now Vita Managing Director, Valentina Zagvozdina says she's been so impressed with the show that she has decided to sign up for ATM 2005.

'We have signed deals with travel professionals in Russia, the Ukraine, India and Egypt,' she said. 'I did not expect anything as good as this. We have not only met well over 100 possible clients but have done far more business than expected. This show really works for us.'

Niall McLoughlin, Communications Manager, Dubai Festival City, said the show had been busier than last year. 'In particular we have had a lot of enquiries about the residences at DFC so this show has been a big success for us.'

The MICE sector and Pan Arab tourism was receiving the most demand, according to Ali Z.A. Abu Monassar, Deputy Chairman of Net Tours and Travels, the ground handler for ATM.

'I have a staff of 20 at the show and I have personally spoken to more than 100 buyers so far. We have had a lot of requests for conference and incentive business and for Pan Arab tourism. There has been tremendous growth in this year's ATM and it is attracting a very high quality of visitors looking to do business.'

Building on its first visit to Arabian Travel Market, Abu Dhabi now plans to return in 2005, according to Mohammed Mounib, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Duty Free, an exhibitor at the Abu Dhabi pavilion.

'I am very pleased that the initiative has been taken to have a major presence here. This is the first time we have had such a co-ordinated presence,' he said.

Reed Travel Exhibitions, RTE, which organises the show said exhibitor feedback had been particularly positive about the high calibre of trade professionals visiting the show.

'At this show we have had quantity and quality,' said Tom Nutley, Chairman, RTE.

Arabian Travel Market 2004 will be open to the public on Friday evening from 4pm until 9pm. There will be an entry fee of Dhs5 for adults while youngsters under the age of 16 will be allowed in free, providing they are accompanied by an adult. Visitors producing a Visa card will enter free of charge.