Global Experts launch Research for 13-Year Middle East Tourism Blueprint

Global Futures & Foresight (GFF) - a global strategic futures think tank - is undertaking in-depth research of the Middle East travel and tourism industry for an incisive 13-year blueprint for the sector, with a pathfinding ‘Vision To 2020’ report due at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) - the region’s premier travel and tourism event being held in Dubai next month.

The study, sponsored by ATM organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), covers 13 countries spanning the Gulf Co-operation Council, wider Middle East and Levant, as well as North Africa. 

“This study is a ground-breaking project for the Middle East and will provide a truly international perspective on how travel in the region could develop and what the implications might be. Being associated with this leading work is a demonstration of our commitment to contributing to the sustainable development of travel in the region,” said Richard Mortimore, Chief Executive, RTE.

In all, GFF will produce three major industry reports with the ‘pathfinder’ being presented at the ATM 2007, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 1 – 4. The study is being conducted using a combination of a global survey of industry professionals and travellers, in-depth desk research and expert interviews.

“The pathfinder research - the first of its kind in the region - is designed to help industry players develop their understanding of the critical challenges and opportunities the industry is likely to face in the future, define the drivers of change, identify potential events which could blow growth off-course, and illustrate what the overall picture could look like by 2020,” said David Smith, Joint Head of GFF.

GFF’s second report will include comprehensive industry data and will be released in November 2007. The final study - ‘A Response from the Region’ - containing detailed findings from regional industry leaders will be presented at the Arabian Travel Market 2008.

“Across the region, countries, states and cities are embarking on an unparalleled programme of investment and development to increase capacity, improve infrastructures, and grow tourist numbers and revenues. Current estimates suggest that over the next 20 years, upwards of US $3 trillion is going directly into leisure and tourism and indirectly into the supporting infrastructure. Through projects announced to date, by 2020 the region will add airport capacity for 300 million extra passengers, build over 200 new hotels, add 100,000 additional rooms, grow visitor numbers to over 150 million and increased the size of its aircraft fleet by over 150% by 2025,” added Smith.

“This major study programme will explore the potential implications of such explosive growth and development. It is aimed at identifying the drivers and barriers which could sustain, accelerate or curtail the forecasted boom in travel and tourism in the region. The study will identify key global, regional and local security, political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legislative trends and consumer behaviours and potential ‘wild cards’ and discontinuous changes. It will then develop scenarios highlighting their possible impact on the region’s plans.”

The study will look at crucial issues of information reliability, innovation, competition and co-operation, sustainability, protection of culture and heritage, differentiation and target markets, service standards, safety, the impact of technology and resources.

 The full ‘Vision To 2020’ report will be circulated to more than 20,000 attendees of the World Travel Market in London and distributed electronically to over 150,000 travel industry professionals worldwide.

The GFF ‘pathfinder’ study is part of an extended seminar programme planned for the ATM 2007 – the 14th edition of the annual event. In all, the programme features 11 informative sessions tackling important industry topics and featuring international speakers.

“Top representatives from leading travel and tourism organisations such as PATA, Costa Cruises, Virgin Galactic, Easy Hotels, Eurosport, and publishers Motivate Publishing and NPI Media, as well as international consultancy FutureBrand will be hosting these seminars,” said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director – Overseas Events, RTE.

This year the show features over 2600 exhibitors from 60 countries, including first-time participation from Croatia, Macau, Nigeria, Palestine, Swaziland, Taiwan, and Zimbabwe.

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