Virtually connected at ATM

The Arabian Travel Market is the most anticipated event in the Middle East, this year with all its barriers didn’t really deter the organisers from running a successful show – connecting people across the world with 18,959 total registrations, 3,382 exhibitors, 490 media persons, 46 speakers and 12,058 trade visitors.  TRAVTALK caught up with a few comments from industry leaders.

Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority 

RAKTDA respects and supports the decision of the organisers to host ATM virtually this year, keeping in mind the health and well-being of participants and attendees. As the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the travel and tourism sector, it is crucial that we continue to engage with our industry partners and find new ways to collaborate and share knowledge. ATM Virtual provided the ideal platform for industry leaders to share their insights and experience on the trends impacting the tourism sector during these difficult times. We look forward to next year’s exhibition, and the opportunity to come together with the travel community and reinforce those all-important interpersonal connections with suppliers, consumers and industry experts.

Tarique Khatri, EVP Centre of Excellence, Seera Group

The virtual Arabian Travel Market, organised in tune with the current times, added to the positive outlook of the industry, and inspired confidence on its revival, with green shoots already in sight. Seera Group, as a regular participant at the event in earlier years, showcased our view of the market and our confidence in how domestic tourism will first gain strength, followed by the region welcoming international tourists. This is underpinned in the first survey on post COVID-19 travel in Saudi Arabia conducted by our omnichannel travel brand, Almosafer, which highlighted our industry’s resilience and predicts that a majority of Saudis are ready to travel once restrictions are lifted.

Gaurav Bhatnagar, Co-Founder, TBO Holidays

It was very disappointing for the entire travel trade that the ATM couldn’t happen this year. It is one event that all of us look forward to every year. So, it was heartening to see that the organisers made an effort to conduct a virtual ATM. We used the opportunity to connect with our suppliers, customers and partners using the online platform. The webinars were also interesting and engaging. While nothing can replace an actual in-person meeting, virtual ATM was as good as it could be in the given circumstances.

Pichaya Saisaengchan, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Dubai and the Middle East

With ATM going virtual this year, it was very insightful to see how the travel and tourism community has reacted to the current pandemic. The sharing of strategy from the different tourism destinations is important as we aim to attract international visitors by addressing health and safety concerns. In Thailand, we have introduced the ‘Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration: SHA’ certification, which aims to elevate the country’s hospitality industry standards and develop confidence among tourists, including visitors from the ME.

Nasir Jamal Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Al Naboodah Travel

ATM virtual was a new concept which became a really good networking platform. It was also a
good opportunity this year to attend as a panellist and share ideas with like-minded professionals in the trade. We were able to have our meetings scheduled and attend them with ease thanks to the virtual platform. Overall, it was a successful event and a good experience in this new normal era.

Asim Arshard, Group Chief Executive Officer – Orient Travel and Tourism Agency LLC; Orient Tours LLC; Orient Cargo LLC

In its 27th iteration, ATM was held virtually over the first four days of June 2020 to acclaim and success. Our team was well represented to take advantage of 50+ meetings, but I would be remiss not to qualify it with a brief mention of the AV difficulties attendees faced. However, given the quality of buyers’ present, especially and in surprisingly good numbers from Latin America, the overall feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Congratulations to Reed Exhibitions and DTCM for a terrific first effort.

Daniel Rosado Bayon, Director of the Spanish Tourism Office in Abu Dhabi

The ATM, being a major exhibition for the region’s travel and tourism industry, is the perfect place to meet with tourism professionals and foster relationships. This year, as result of coronavirus, we had the virtual ATM, which helped our partners to continue the contact with the travel trade in the region, and this time from home. Nothing can replace physical meetings, but the online system set up worked perfectly, being easy and convenient. Given the uncertainty of our sector at these times, webinars and live conferences were very useful to get a real picture of the actual situation and what is coming and how we can prepare for the new normal.

Sapna Aidasani, Manager PR and Marketing, Pluto Travels

I am impressed the way Dubai shows leadership in all the industries especially travel industry. When I heard that ATM was going to take place in June amidst the COVID scenario, I was wondering when all the fairs across the globe have been cancelled how will ATM happen, and the news came that it would be a virtual ATM. Within the same day I registered myself and started getting meeting invites. On Day one, I had more than six meetings which was way too much with all the other webinars and panel discussions. Day two went smoothly and I was able to connect with many partners and hotels from Africa to Europe. I was glad they extended the ATM for Day four which gave me an opportunity to finish my meetings and connect with more participants.

Inputs by Shehara Rizly