Figures released on Wednesday reveal that more than 500,000 visitors attended a record number of events at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center(DICEC) in the first six months of 2008 - an increase of 40 percent over the same period last year. With the number of exhibitions and meetings at the venue surging significantly, the figures demonstrate the strong progress that the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is making towards positioning Dubai as the world's leading destination for exhibitions, conferences and events, according to senior executives. DWTC recorded 551,056 visitors to DICEC between January and June 2008, compared to 393,665 in the first six months of 2007. Entering into the busy autumn period - which includes blockbuster shows such as Cityscape Exhibition & Conference, Gitex Technology Week, Index, and Big 5 - DWTC executives are confident that they are on track to beat the records set in 2007, officially the Group's ‘busiest year ever.' Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, DWTC, said: “Dubai continues to expand its reach and influence as a premier global destination for meetings, exhibitions and events. The ongoing strong growth of DWTC-hosted events - which target some of the most strategically-important industry sectors such as aviation, banking and finance, and biotech - demonstrates both the current expansion of the region's economy as well as the excellent platform offered by DWTC venues and services.” Among the significant exhibitions that debuted this season included Aircraft Interiors Middle East, an event that targets the high-growth aviation sector in the region, with organizers expecting the next edition to more than double in size. Another big success was the inaugural event for banking and finance, MEFX, organised in partnership with Dubai International Financial Center, which attracted attendees from over 40 countries. The China Sourcing Fair, the premier commercial event for traders and volume buyers from the MENA region and suppliers and manufacturers from Greater China, reported record responses. Organizers Global Sources reported a 60 percent growth compared to the last edition. DICEC hosted 20,316 exhibitors during the first six months of 2008, an increase of 14 percent over last year, while the total number of delegates for meetings and conferences also recorded a substantial increase.
