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His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister yesterday opened the ninth Arabian Travel Market - the Middle East's premier travel and tourism show at the Airport Expo Dubai and unveiled a model of the emirate's latest world-class resort development Madinat
Jumeirah.
Being built next to the celebrated Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah is designed to be one of the world's most luxurious and diverse resorts. It will have two 300-room, five star hotels and clusters of 340 rooms and suites in courtyard villas, all featuring authentic architecture reflecting the heritage and culture of Dubai and Arabia. The first phase is due for completion by summer next year.
After the unveiling HH Sheikh Mohammed spent two hours touring the show accompanied by a VIP entourage including HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Information, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group, HE Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum al Maktoum, Director General, Department of Information, Government of Dubai, H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Jassem Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar General Tourism Authority, H.E. Abdulla bin Ahmed al Thani and Mr Monther Znaidi, Minister of Tourism, Leisure and Handicrafts of Tunisia.
Accompanied by Khalid bin Sulayem, Director General of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai and Tom Nutley, Managing Director of Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises Arabian Travel Market, Sheikh Mohammed stopped at numerous stands inside the two exhibition halls which feature over 700 exhibitors from 56 countries.
The Crown Prince called at the pavilions of Fujairah, stopping to talk to HE Sheikh Saeed Bin Saeed al Sharqi, Chairman of the Fujairah Tourism Bureau, then at Oman, spending time with H.E. Mohsin Al Balushi, Director General of Tourism, onto Bahrain, where he was briefed on latest developments by Dr. Kadhim Rajab, Under Secretary for Tourism and also Sharjah, where he chatted with H.E. Sheikh Tariq Al Faisal Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Tourism Authority.
Pavilions from the Far East, Europe and Africa were also on Sheikh Mohammed's agenda with the Crown Prince spending considerable time at the Tanzanian stand where he met with The Honorable Zakia H. Meghji, the country's Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism.
"The interest shown by Sheikh Mohammed was extensive," said Tom Nutley. "He was genuinely keen on learning of industry developments throughout the world and the time he spent at the show was sincerely appreciated by all the exhibitors."
Arabian Travel Market 2002, which spans 8,500 square metres, has the first official participation in the series of Algeria, South Africa, Mauritius, Korea and Greece. The show features 212 stands - 68 of which are new to the show. The exhibition also features its first exhibitor from Senegal and the debut participation of the Palestine National Authority.
Arabian Travel Market 2002 runs until Friday night at Airport Expo Dubai. The event is open to trade only until Thursday evening. The public can attend on Thursday evening from 5pm until 8pm and again on Friday, from 4pm until 9pm on payment of a nominal Dhs5 entry fee per person of Dhs10 for a family ticket. Consumers presenting a Visa card can enter free of charge. |
