Marking a milestone
DAY 1
As Arabian Travel Market opens its doors, the show celebrates 25 years at the forefront of tourism in the region and looks at the trends set to change the industry’s future
Over the course of the past two decades, Arabian Travel Market has played an integral role in the rapid development of the region’s tourism industry. As the largest gathering of its kind in the Middle East, the show has brought together leaders from all facets of the region’s travel sector and beyond. Offering valuable insights, thoughtprovoking analysis and stimulating debate, the show has facilitated countless business deals worth billions of dollars, offering an important platform for companies to grow. At the same time, from its very first edition in 1994, Arabian Travel Market has acted as an important industry barometer, identifying new trends and shining a light on
Creating a more sustainable future
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the way forward as the tourism proposition across the region has matured. Now, 25 years later, both the show and its host city Dubai have greatly changed. To mark the milestone, this year’s edition looks back at the successes, but also focuses on the decades to come. “We are exceptionally proud of what Arabian Travel Market, and the region’s destinations, have achieved over the past 25 years. During this year’s show there will be a strong sense of celebration for some of those achievements, but we also want to look ahead at the exciting developments still to come,” said Nadege Noblet, Exhibition Manager, ATM.
With a special focus on responsible tourism, Arabian Travel Market 2018 is highlighting one of the most pressing issues facing the tourism industry today. As Gulf economies look to diversify their offering by expanding into new tourism markets, responsible travel is a major focus. An increasingly high priority for modern travellers is the notion of sustainability, which is also set to feature prominently as a key theme during Expo 2020 Dubai. Simon Press, ATM Senior Exhibition Director, said: “It is important to highlight that the GCC is one of the fastest growing regional hospitality markets on a global scale and is a resource-intensive industry. “Its impact on the environment is multidimensional, ranging from CO2 emissions
“ATM 2018 will build on the success of last year’s show, which was the largest edition in its history, showcasing over 2,500 exhibitors, welcoming almost 40,000 industry professionals and agreeing business deals worth US$2.5 billion (AED9.1 billion) over the four days. “In celebration of its 25th year, this year’s show will host a series of special seminar sessions looking back on the tourism revolution in the MENA region over the last quarter of a century, and also forecasting what lies ahead for the industry over the next 25 years.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
to noise and light pollution. Travellers have C become very conscious of the carbon footprint they are leaving. This growing trend has M meant the entire industry has had to look Y long and hard at how sustainability drives CM business strategy. “At ATM 2018, we will be showcasing MY some of MENA’s leading examples of busiCY nesses that make the rich heritage of the region accessible to tourists, bring economic CMY development to local communities and help K preserve their cultures.” Encompassing everything from ecoinitiatives to giving back to communities, responsible tourism also seeks to safeguard the local heritage of destinations.
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The industry’s call for change
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On the fast track
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A history of successes
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4/19/18 3:17 PM