SUCCESSFUL
EXPO 2020 BID TO STIMULATE
UAE MEETINGS
INDUSTRY
MICE sector professionals and GIBTM exhibitors predict exponential
growth in business events as global attention focuses on UAE’s world-class MICE
infrastructure
Dubai’s
successful World Expo 2020 bid will accelerate economic growth throughout the
UAE and MENA region, will provide renewed stimulus to the meetings and
incentives sector according to industry experts and executives at Reed Travel
Exhibitions, organisers of the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings
(GIBTM) showcase.
“The
UAE will be the first ever Middle East nation to
host the World Expo, bringing an anticipated 25 million visitors to Dubai, 71%
of whom will hail from overseas,” said GIBTM Exhibition Manager Lois
Hall.
“This will raise the profile of the UAE even further,
highlighting its status as a global meetings hub before, during and after the
event and supported by an estimated US$7 billion worth of transport and tourism-related
infrastructure development.”
Hall highlighted Bank of America Merrill Lynch predictions that
the event could positively impact UAE GDP by as much as $23 billion between
2015 and 2021 and add 277,000 new jobs.
“If you the consider Alpen Capital’s estimate that UAE tourism
receipts will increase by 67% over the next five years, it puts the meetings industry
in pole position to capitalise on this historic opportunity,” she added.
HE
Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
(TCA Abu Dhabi), said: “The Expo will deliver global exposure for the entire
UAE and its tourism sector, including its world-class infrastructure.
“Those arriving to visit Expo 2020 will no
doubt be open to discovering other parts of the country and its many facets
both from a cultural and tourism perspective.”
Dubai Convention and Events Bureau (DCEB) director of convention
and business tourism Steen Jakobsen said the Expo would “position
Dubai in the minds of so many people involved in the decision-making process
for congresses and meetings”.
“They
will look on Dubai and know it’s hosting the Expo, which will give them
confidence; if they believe Dubai is capable of hosting an Expo they will know
it is capable hosting their meeting,” he said.
Dr
Ahmad Belhoul, CEO strategy and
tourism sector development, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM)
said hosting an Expo was a “once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity” to be part of a dynamic international agenda that “established
global partnerships to boost economies, bridge geographical divides by increasing
connectivity and trade, and encouraging sustainable growth and development”.
The MICE sector currently generates AED 2.4
billion (US$653 million) per annum for the UAE capital alone, with annual
growth of at least 7% predicted for the industry by 2020, taking its
contribution to more than AED 5.1 billion ($1.39 billion) by the time the Expo
takes place.
Martin
Sirk, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), congratulated
Dubai’s Expo win and said: “Having seen first-hand what a tremendous
developmental and marketing impact the Expo made in 2012 on Shanghai, where ICCA
has just held its own global congress, I am sure Expo 2020 will prove to be a
massive stimulant to the entire (GCC) region’s meetings infrastructure and
industry in general.”
ICCA,
is just one of several key industry partners and exhibitors at the upcoming
edition of GIBTM, which takes place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
(ADNEC) from 24-26 March 2014.
The
show has recently confirmed participation from Bahrain and Qatar, which along
with Jordan, will participate in GIBTM’s inaugural post-show familiarisation
trip programme for Hosted Buyers.
Other
new initiatives for GIBTM 2014 include Business Travel @GIBTM, which offers a full
day of networking and educational opportunities for this specific sector; the
first-ever GIBTM-hosted ‘Market Focus on Asia’ event along with a dedicated
Asia Pavilion; and the sourceme Pavilion,
in partnership with Nicholas Publishing InternationaI (NPI), which will
showcase the region’s leading event service suppliers.
GIBTM
GIBTM forms part of the Reed Travel
Exhibitions Meetings, Events and Business Travel Portfolio along with AIME (www.aime.com.au), GIBTM (www.gibtm.com), CIBTM (www.cibtm.com), AIBTM (www.aibtm.com) and IBTM Africa (www.ibtmevents.com/ibtmafrica) IBTM India (www.ibtmevents.com/ibtmindia)
GIBTM is the annual global meetings and
incentive exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
GIBTM is ABC Audited every year to guarantee that the number of visitors
promoted is completely accurate and are unique attendees only.
Reed
Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world’s
leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry, with a
wide-ranging portfolio of 20 international events in 13 countries throughout
the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. Its
market-leading, business-to-business events cover all elements of travel and
tourism, including leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, events, incentives
and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel.
RTE is part of Reed Exhibitions.
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