130 agents from GCC attend Marhaba ’24

After its successful first edition in Oman last year, Marhaba France-Spain’s second edition took place in the capital of the United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi – a few weeks prior to the Arabian Travel Market, Dubai. About 80 exhibitors from both destinations took part in the event with over 130 buyers from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

TT Bureau

France and Spain are most popular among the GCC travellers, as they have diverse offerings catering to the requirements of the GCC market. Daniel Rosado, Director, Spain Tourism, shared, “At the Spain tourism office, we believe that the best way to promote the destination is by mixing both private and public companies. Hence, we have nine destinations, including Mallorca and Granada this year, as well as hotels, DMCs and shopping centres partnering this year to provide that perfect combination to sell the destination with all its diverse offerings. This B2B event brings together buyers and suppliers and they connect to learn from each other about the way to go forward. Our partners are provided the opportunity to participate both in Marhaba and at the Arabian Travel Market, so that they can conduct more lucrative networking opportunities as we had a pavilion to accommodate our partners.”

Namratha Rose, Marketing Manager, Spain Tourism, said, “We are thrilled to participate in the second edition of Marhaba France and Spain. These focused gatherings play a pivotal role in fostering connections, nurturing networks, and sustaining crucial B2B relationships within the travel and tourism industry. Spain has witnessed a surge of interest from the GCC region, and events like Marhaba, as well as the Arabian Travel Market, highlight the significance of catering to this growing market. With its diverse attractions, rich cultural heritage, and unparalleled hospitality, Spain offers something for every discerning traveller from the GCC. I am confident that this trend will only continue to flourish in the future, as we remain committed to providing unforgettable experiences and forging enduring partnerships.”

Karim Mekachera, Director, Atout France ME, concluded, “This is the second edition of Marhaba France-Spain, first was held in Oman last year and it was a success. As you know, both France and Spain complement each other as they both have luxury experiences to showcase to be added to the itineraries for agents. Our event is one of the best targeted events for the travel trade in the region. This year is a special one as the summer Olympics takes place in Paris, which has created quite a lot of interest and we are looking forward to welcoming more visitors from this region. This two-day event provides a great networking platform to our partners who specially fly in for this event, some already known in the market and some who are new.”

Marhaba France-Spain facilitated networking opportunities for over 80 partners from the two countries, who met 130 plus travel agents from across the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, fostering great connections within two days of discovering the various offerings and opportunities to diversify their business.