Arabian Travel Market 2015 gets set for business

By Mark Elliott On May 4, 2015

TD Guest Writer

Guest Writers are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the specific writer directly

- L-R: Philippe Zuber, chief operating officer, Emaar Hospitality Group, Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, DSVP commercial operations centre, Emirates Airline, Nadège Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market, 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, Marc Bennett, Senior Vice President, International Operations, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Ali Abu Monassar, chairman, The Vision Destination Management — – L-R: Philippe Zuber, chief operating officer, Emaar Hospitality Group, Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, DSVP commercial operations centre, Emirates Airline, Nadège Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market, 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, Marc Bennett, Senior Vice President, International Operations, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Ali Abu Monassar, chairman, The Vision Destination Management

Dubai is all geared up to host the 22^nd Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2015.

The event kicks off today for four days providing business networking opportunities, seminar sessions and ministerial discussions.

The 2015 edition looks to welcome over 400 confirmed exhibitors and an expected 23,000 visitors. The show has grown by seven percent since 2014, and added an extra hall for 2015, with 86 countries represented, 64 national pavilions, and a total of 113 new exhibitors.

“As we count down to Expo 2020 and a target of at least 20 million visitors annually as part of Tourism Vision 2020, and a forecasted figure of 25 m visitors for the six-month-long expo, it’s impossible not to be swept up in the momentum of tourism development, both right here in the UAE and across the region. Despite ongoing challenges facing neighbouring economies, the Middle East continues to break new ground when it comes to infrastructure expansion, government and private sector initiatives, and visitor engagement,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market.

In addition, ATM 2015 will welcome 80 senior industry leaders from commercial travel organisations to its Captains of Industry Lunch, and introduce, for the first time, the ATM Best Stand Awards.

“With one of ATM’s main themes for this year being family tourism, we are also using the show as an opportunity to highlight Dubai’s strength within this segment. Furthermore, DTCM is playing an integral role in promotion of Emirati culture, and during this year’s ATM delegates are being invited to daily workshops hosted by Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU),” said Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing

This year looks to add to its record-breaking achievements last year – 33,000 participants an increase of 12%, from more than 130 countries, and business deals worth over US$ 2.1 billion signed over the four days.

EXPERT OPINION

Nadege Noblet-Segers