93+ UAE exhibitors at ATM

This year’s Arabian Travel Market will focus on the emergence of innovative technologies that have revolutionised the travel, tourism and hospitality sector. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director—ME, Arabian Travel Market shares more details about the show.

TT Bureau

What is new at Arabian Travel Market this year?
Cutting-edge technology and innovation will be adopted as the show theme and launched as a platform to inspire the travel and hospitality industry about the next generation of technology whilst bringing together senior travel executives to conduct business with innovative tech providers. Launching this year will be the inaugural Arabian Travel Week from April 27 – May 1, an umbrella brand which comprises four co-located shows: ATM 2019; CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum, ILTM Arabia and a new consumer-led event – ATM Holiday Shopper. Arabian Travel Week will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. ATM Holiday Shopper on April 27 will showcase over 30 travel and hospitality exhibitors from regional and international destinations who will be offering the very best travel and tourism discounts and deals exclusively for consumers attending the show. The inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa event will be the first and only networking forum in the Middle East. Co-located with ATM 2019, the new route development forum will be taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre on April 30 and May 1.

Have all the emirates confirmed their participation?
Participating at this year’s show will be the tourism boards from the UAE’s seven emirates with major exhibits from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah as well as over 93 other UAE exhibitors including Emirates, Emaar Hospitality Group and Dubai Airports Corporation. This year’s edition is expected to bring together almost 40,000 travel professionals representing over 150 country pavilions showcasing over 2,800 products and destinations from around the world to more than 28,000 buyers and travel trade visitors.

Are there any new countries or exhibitors this year?
ATM 2019 will welcome more than 100 new exhibitors including Expo 2020 Dubai, flynas, Belarus National Tourism Agency, Moscow Committee for Tourism and Montenegro National Tourism Organisation, South Africa Tourism Bureau and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

This year has some interesting seminars lined up. Could you share more details?
Debuting this year is Arabia China Tourism Forum on April 28. With China set to account for a quarter of international tourism by 2030, an expert panel will discuss how destinations around the world can capitalise on this growth. Another debutant this year is ATM Hotel Industry Summit which will host expert panels to provide an insight on the latest hotel developments and innovative digital infrastructure shaping the future of the hospitality sector. This summit titled ‘ATM Hotel Industry Summit: Opportunity knocks’ will take place on April 30.