Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017, the largest travel trade event in Dubai opens its doors on Monday 24th April 2017. The event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 24-27 April, featuring 2,600 exhibitors, 65 national pavilions and anticipates 30,000 trade visitors.
This year the organizers have added an extra hall to accommodate the increased demand with more than 100 new exhibitors to be present at this year’s ATM. At the Arabian Travel Market Press Event, Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM stated that “It is clear that the Expo 2020 project is driving growth throughout Dubai, as it aims to complete 160,000 hotel rooms in time to welcome an additional five million visitors over the course of the six-month event. However, the UAE and the GCC countries as a whole are looking towards tourism as a way of diversifying their economies away from their reliance on hydrocarbon receipts.”
Arabian Travel Market: Theme of 2017 — Experiential Travel
Travel is now all about experiences, the main theme of the Arabian Travel Market this year is experiential travel. Press added that “the increasing trend is for an immersive style of tourism, which encompasses different areas of local life – culinary, culture, history, shopping, nature, sports, halal, theme parks, wellness and spa, medical tourism and sheer Arabic opulence – and can be the basis for a holistic travel experience, by connecting with a place rather than just making a visit.
Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai’s Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) highlighted that “Dubai is a city you must experience”. The marketing efforts have shifted from focusing on staged photos but rather working with digital influencers and bloggers to promote the destination.
“2017 began on a strong note for inbound tourism to Dubai with over three million overnight visitors recorded in January and February, representing a 12 per cent year-on-year growth in visitor numbers. A large part of this continued success is due to the ongoing support from our partners – from new and existing attractions, to airlines and travel agents – all working together to evolve and innovate Dubai’s destination offering.
Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airlines, said: “Experiential travel, ATM’s theme for this year, is about providing more choice, and as an airline, we are seeing rising demand from consumers for more authentic and engaging travel experiences. In this seamlessly connected era, people want to travel better, with a more personalised experience and at Emirates we work hard to deliver those memorable experiences for our customers.”
He added that Emirates is focused on providing an excellent children’s entertainment program as “the kids are the customers of tomorrow”.
Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, commented: “Ten years since our inception, we have clearly defined our credentials as a home-grown hospitality group with a growing portfolio of hotel and serviced residences projects in the UAE and other international markets. He also stated that “Expo 2020 is a big target for us”.
“The Arabian Travel Market 2017 offers us a significant platform to highlight our three exceptional hotel brands – Address Hotels + Resorts, a premium luxury hotel and residences brand; Vida Hotels and Resorts, an upscale lifestyle hotel and residences brand; and Rove Hotels, a contemporary midscale hotel and residences brand – and to showcase the properties under these brands.
Anwar A.Z Abu Monassar, Destination Director, Strategy & Operation, The Vision, said: “Arabian Travel Market is the premier event in our industry, where we can network and showcase our products and projects to a huge, captive audience. As official ground handlers, The Vision Destination Management are glad to contribute to this success story, which started some 24 years ago. We will present designed concepts and enhance visitors’ experiences, while reaffirming our strong commitment to the industry and the region.”
Photo courtesy of Shamal Communications
From left to right:
Anwar A.Z Abu Monassar, Destination Director, Strategy & Operation, The Vision
Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline
Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market and World Travel Market
Issam Abdul Rahim Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing
Olivier Harnisch, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group
Passion for Dubai will attend the Bloggers Speed Networking event, we look forward to meeting you at the Arabian Travel Market.
