Arabian Travel Market 2006 an Overwhelming Success

The Arabian Travel Market 2006 – the 13th in the annual series of the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event – attracted a record number of trade buyers from 99 countries to the Dubai World Trade Centre – with total numbers up 10% on last year’s figures to reach an all-time high of nearly 11,674.

The 2006 event was attended by 974 media - up 29% - with nearly a third travelling from overseas.

The show had 38% more allocated floor space - spanning 22,229 square metres - to accommodate 1,750 exhibitors from 59 countries - including 114 first time participants.

“This augurs well for next year’s show, which will run from May 1 – 4. With the level of interest already expressed and repeat bookings from exhibitors, next year promises to be even better,” said Chris Chackal, Group Exhibition Director, Overseas Events, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) – organiser of Arabian Travel Market.

Statistics showed significant increases from North and South America, Asia and the Middle East – which accounted for 83.3% of the total number of buyers attending the four day exhibition.

“Trade visitors from the Americas were almost double last year and we believe this indicates new markets opening up for the show,” said Chackal. “Delegates signed in from countries not represented last year - including Andorra, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Macau, Mexico and Zimbabwe.

“We have seen an increase in repeat visits of our Meridian Club members - the top identified buyers attending ATM with the purpose and the authority to source and purchase travel products and services showcased.”

Of the 1,445 Meridian Club members attending ATM 2006, approximately a third returned for business three days in a row.

“Their return visits to the show emphasise the amount of business generated and the range and quality of exhibitors at Arabian Travel Market,” said Chackal.

Meridian Club member Siobhan Byrne, from luxury travel company Adams & Butler, from Ireland, highlighted the quality aspect of the event.

“Back in Dublin, I had four enquiries for Cambodia and Laos that I was unable to service – until I came to this year’s ATM, where I met a destination management company (DMC) that can handle these enquiries.

“In addition we were specifically looking to identify DMCs in Lebanon, Jordan and Libya – a requirement which we successfully met. A Moroccan Tourist Board official is now helping us to raise the awareness of Morocco in Ireland and is putting us in touch with suppliers to compile tours - to meet a more culturally sophisticated market in Ireland.

“ATM attracts such a breadth of Middle Eastern and North African tourism products that you do not have access to elsewhere. I shall definitely return,” she said.

The show housed 50 official tourism organisations including first timers Japan, Ireland, Russia and Poland.

Japan has already vowed to return to next year’s Arabian Travel Market taking a whole pavilion.

“We have seen phenomenal interest in Japan with a large number of high level management and key decision makers visiting our stand,” said Yosuke Okazaki, Director Planning and Project, Japan Co-operation Centre for the Middle East.

“Due to the fantastic response we plan to return next year, expanding our stand to a pavilion, to accommodate Japanese tour operators and hotels that have expressed interest in exhibiting.”

From South Africa, Carol Volkwyn, Area Manager Marketing and Sales of the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve near Johannesburg said, “For me, generating interest is paramount. I came with the intention to target the Middle East market but I’ve had enquiries from Greek, UK, Italian and even Brazilian travel operators – which was unexpected.”

Exhibitor Owen Yau, President of Travel Asia Ltd., Hong Kong, said “The ATM is second to none for collating information and learning who is doing what in their respective business sectors. Although we are firmly established in the travel industry, I need this event to keep one step ahead of the competition.”

“This has been our most successful show in Arabian Travel Market’s history,” said Lucie Dawkins, ATM Marketing Manager. “And with 86% of this year’s floor space already re-booked for ATM 2007, we are on course for another record-breaking event.”

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