Huge success for Dubai at ATM 2006

The DTCM Director General Mr. Khalid A Bin Sulayem described the prestigious four-day travel and trade show as a "resounding success."

The DTCM in its unfaltering efforts to put Dubai on the top of the world tourism map organised its largest-ever showing at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM-2006) at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 2-5.

Mr. Bin Sulayem said

"The DTCM participation at the ATM 2006 was very fruitful since it provided an excellent platform to showcase Dubai and its rapidly expanding trade and tourism facilities to the world."

Measuring 801 square meters, the Dubai stand was the biggest that the DTCM has ever set up with an all-time record of 124 co-participants from the private and the public sector.

This year, Dubai's stand was 28.5 per cent larger than in 2005. The co-participants from the public sector were Dubai Convention Bureau, Dubai Police, Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises, Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department.

The four-day premier event of tourism and travel industry of the Middle East featured 106 new exhibitors this year bringing in 4,814 sq. metres of additional space to the exhibition. The total number of participating countries stood at 59.

Visitors to the 13th edition of the ATM had the opportunity to explore a number of innovative projects that redefined the most significant aspects of the tourism and hospitality sectors in Dubai. These include a scale model of new Movenpick properties and a special heritage corner.

The phenomenal increase in Dubai's presence at the ATM can be gauged from its humble beginning in 1995. The Dubai stand in the ATM in 1995 measured 225 square meters and had 18 co-participants and 14 booths.

Dubai's rapidly-expanding hospitality industry posted a record growth of 14 per cent increase in 2005, playing host to more than 6 million tourists in 2005.