HH Sheikh Maktoum opens Arabian Travel Market

HH Sheikh Maktoum opens Arabian Travel Market

Deputy Ruler of Dubai opens region’s largest travel and tourism event amid wave of optimism for regional industry and strong international presence

HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, today officially opened Arabian Travel Market 2011, in the presence of senior government officials, leaders of the regional and international travel industry and high profile exhibitors participating in the event.

The event programme for day one of ATM gathers some of the largest travel and tourism organisations in the Middle East and internationally, from both the public and private sector. HH Sheikh Maktoum toured the exhibition floor, which featured local and regional representatives including Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, the Egyptian Tourism Authority and the Bahrain Ministry of Culture.
“Regional inbound and outbound tourism professionals are currently riding a wave of optimism, especially in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Recent estimates for hotel occupancies in both countries suggest a healthy double digit increase, according to industry professionals. Naturally, Qatar will provide a lift for the whole region as infrastructure projects begin in earnest, in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022,” said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

ATM also features representatives from other key areas of the globe, including some of the largest travel and tourism organisations in Europe, Asia, the US and South America. Among international officials participating in the event are Alain Azouaou, Ambassador, French Embassy Abu Dhabi and Gonzalo De Benito Secades, Ambassador of Spain.

Jean-Paul Tarud Kuborn, Chilean Ambassador to the UAE, also joined senior figures from tourism ministries in Cyprus, Malaysia and the Philippines.
ATM is a comprehensive four-day travel trade event, held from 2-5 May 2011, comprising an exhibition, conference and seminar programme, which this year is sponsored by new exhibitor, the Mexico Tourism Board, along with specialist industry days including travel agents day, careers day and consumer day.
Topics on day one included the luxury travel sector, aviation, the future of travel and hotel concepts of the future. Speakers include some of the region’s most influential business leaders, including Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airlines, Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia and Helen Beck, Director of EMEA, Royal Caribbean International.

Highlights of the sessions tomorrow will include the cruise sector, green initiatives, Middle East tourism trends along with technology and online marketing.
With a diverse range of international participants, ATM unlocks business opportunities within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals.
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. Now approaching its eighteenth year, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world. In 2010, Arabian Travel Market featured 2,236 exhibitors across more than 20,000 square metres, attracting more than 22,000 visitors.

The ATM exhibition, spanning more the 20,000 square metres of floor space and over 2,200 exhibitors, showcases a broad range of accommodation options, tourism attractions, new airline routes and travel technology.

Photo caption HH Sheikh Maktoum cuts the ribbon to mark the opening of Arabian Travel Market 2011. Pictured left to right: Khalid Bin Sulayem, Director General, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing; HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group and Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

About Arabian Travel Market:
Arabian Travel Market is part of the Reed Travel Exhibitions’ portfolio, which includes 15 of the world’s leading travel industry events. For more information visit
www.arabiantravelmarket.com

Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions organise the world's leading travel industry events for trade professionals around the globe, incorporating the travel trade, corporate, meetings and incentives sectors including Arabian Travel Market, The World Travel Market and the International Travel Luxury Market. www.reedtravelexhibitions.com

Reed Exhibitions
The world's leading organiser of trade and consumer events running over 470 events in 37 countries. Reed Exhibitions excels in creating high profile, highly targeted business and consumer exhibitions and events to establish and maintain business relations, and generate new business.

Reed Exhibitions network of offices and promoters extends to 65 countries. www.reedexpo.com

Reed Elsevier
Reed Elsevier is a world leading provider of professional information and online workflow solutions in the Science, Medical, Legal, Risk Information and Analytics, and Business sectors.

Based in over 200 locations worldwide, they create authoritative content delivered through market leading brands, enabling their customers to find the essential data, analysis and commentary to support their decisions. www.reed-elsevier.com