DUBAI — The Arabian Travel Market has played a significant role in the development of Dubai, Emirates chairman and president of Dubai Civil Aviation Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed said, underscoring Dubai's position as a highly attractive center for exhibitions and other events. “Dubai has achieved so much at a pace that many other cities can only dream of. Dubai's Strategic Plan builds on those achievements and highlights a number of areas, such as the economy, infrastructure and the environment,” he said during the event which opened on Monday and ends today, Thursday. The deputy ruler of Dubai officially inaugurated the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2013, the regions largest travel industry show, which is marking its 20th anniversary during the four-day exhibition. ATM has brought together high profile participants, senior government officials, and leaders of the regional and international travel industry as well as visitors from across the region. The event focuses on the future of the tourism and hospitality industry in the Middle East and attracts over 17,000 visitors. Alongside Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, other royal figures present at the inauguration were Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, CEO and Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman of Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai World, and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture. Emirates airline, Qantas, Google, TripAdvisor, Amadeus, along with hotels and resorts industry players, showcased their projects and industry trends and challenges. Speakers at the inaugural session included senior representatives from Emirates, Jumeirah Group, the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce (DTCM), dnata, Dubai World Trade Centre, and Sharjah Investment & Development Authority. Jumeirah, Starwood, Movenpick, Accor, The Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Rotana, Anantara and Fairmont were among the hotel chains that announced major projects at ATM. This year's sell-out anniversary edition, which is taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, welcomed over 3,000 exhibitors from 87 countries with exhibition floor space covering more than 22,000 square meters. A total of 25 international tourism ministers participated in the second annual UNWTO/ATM Ministerial Forum on Tuesday, foreseeing growth for tourism and aviation. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum inaugurated the seminar program. He said: “Arabian Travel Market has played a significant role in the development of Dubai, underscoring its position as a highly attractive center for exhibitions and events. Dubai has achieved so much at a pace that many other cities can only dream of. Dubai's Strategic Plan builds on those achievements and highlights a number of areas, such as the economy, infrastructure and the environment.” He said that travel and tourism have become the bedrock of the Dubai economy over the past years since the event was inaugurated in May 1994. “As long as we build the infrastructure in Dubai, we will not constrain growth and this is our key advantage,” he said. Gerald Lawless, president and group chief executive of Jumeirah, emphasized that the creation of Emirates played a key role in opening up Dubai for both leisure and business tourism: “So much of the success (of Dubai) is associated with Emirates, since air lift is vital,” he said. ATM is largely focused on the Middle East, tour operators from over 100 countries, including South Africa, France, Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, India, Morocco, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and many more. ATM included government and private sector airlines and hotels offering inbound and international tourism aspects to the Gulf with entertainment and social media prospects highlighting the event. Ruth Haffenden of 4 Communications, London emphasized on the power of social media and spoke about why hoteliers should be taking notice of bloggers, at the Google Technology Theatre. Flash Entertainment has just announced that Depeche Mode will close out the 2013 F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race weekend. Miami and the Beaches Convention & Visitor Bureau were also present at the travel trade forum to inform the region about their luxury lifestyle and offers. Hotel groups and tourism authorities at the exhibition made major announcements. The Ritz-Carlton group announced that by the end of 2014 it will add two further hotels to its portfolio in Morocco. They unveiled plans to open their first property in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, which will become the third property in the brand's North Africa portfolio. The second will be in Marrakech, 20km from the city and set within a polo field. It will boast 60 suites and 20 hotel villas. A further upcoming project is its hotel in Tunis whose biggest feature is the destination spa with 22 treatment rooms and a tennis court. Other launches include countries like China, in Kazakhstan, Bangalore and Arouba. Its project in Cairo, will be complete by 2014. The Bin Majid has announced its plans to invest 150 million in the region, with two properties in Abu Dhai due to open and two hotels in the pipeline for Dubai. Ahmed Al Mahrizi, Oman's Minister of Tourism said new developments would put the country's tourism industry “on a new footing” with 3000 hotel rooms due for completion by the end of 2014 in Oman. Over 32 Saudi companies attended the the Arabian Travel Market representing Saudi Arabia pavilion led by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). Hamad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh, Assistant Vice-President of SCTA for Marketing, said SCTA was keen that the Saudi pavilion in this significant event to include the Saudi companies that seek to increase their share in GCC travel market through introducing Saudi destinations to GCC citizens. Travel comparison website Wego revealed that Saudi Arabia accounts for its largest user base among the Gulf states. SCTA pavilion in the current ATM highlighted tourism potential in the Kingdom and highlighted investment opportunities to GCC travel and tourism companies. SCTA featured a workshop on designing and organizing tourism programs about Saudi tourism destinations for GCC citizens such as Al Taif, Abha, Al Qaseem and Hail. Al Yayyar Group, Alsarh Tours, Fursan Travel, Alshitaiwi Tours, Masawife Tours, Wosol Al Zaer, Zowar Al Beat, Al Jameah Tour Agency, Lamar Tourism, Dwayne, Alula Tour Guide, My Golden Tour, Rooia Group, Talaea Alrekaz, Pioneer Group, Al Reyadah International Company, Mawasim, Elaf Group, Golden Seasons Company, Deyafat Al Haramain, Alahlam Marine Tour, Intercontinental Hotel, Almashreq Hotel, Pullman ZamZam Hotel, Al Mutalq Hotel, Moevenpick Hotel, Al Madina Hotel, Al Hokair Group, Al Taif Company for Tourism Investment, Hodhod Company, Hajeej Company, and Dar Al Eman Company participated in the event. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide revealed that Grand Hills Hotel & Spa in Broumana, an upscale mountain resort town near Beirut, Lebanon will join its iconic Luxury Collection portfolio in 2015. Egypt's Minister of Tourism, HE Hisham Zaazou revealed that the Egyptian Government is attempting to attract Arab Families with special offers in a bid to boost tourism figures. According to CEO flydubai, Ghaith Al Ghaith,relaxing visa requirements will increase passenger traffic and make Dubai a more attractive destination. “Further simplification of the visa processes will contribute to substantially increased global passenger traffic and will make Dubai an even more attractive destination for both leisure and business travellers in support of the Government's Tourism Vision for 2020.” Sabre Travel launched its Custom Offers program allowing travel suppliers to merchandise their customer offers and allowing shoppers to shop more efficiently. Mark Walsh, portfolio director for ATM, said the growth of the event had mirrored that of the emirate, jumping from just 300 exhibitors in 1994 to more than 3,000 this year during a period when Emirates' passenger traffic rose from 1.9 million to 40 million last year. Dubai's recent achievements, were highlighted during the ATM. Dubai is reported to be the number one in achieving the most international passenger traffic by Dubai International Airport in the first quarter 2013. A growth of 54% in Russian visitors and 28% from China in 2012; an additional 30 aircraft and 15 new destinations for Emirates in the past year with a target of 180 by 2020, and double digit growth in visitor numbers to Dubai to reach 10 million for the first time last year were announced at the forum.
