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Arabian Travel Market set for success
An increased hosted buyer programme and a strong set of seminars on the main exhibition floor are among key changes for this year’s Arabian Travel Market.
The 15th annual show, which takes place in Dubai on May 6-9, will see the number of global hosted leisure, corporate and MICE buyers rise from 100 to 125, including many from the UK.
The programme of seminars over the three trade days – the show is open to the public on its final day – will see senior industry figures debate subjects ranging from business class-only airlines through to medical tourism and holidays for blind and visually impaired travellers.
The Big Debate on May 8 will see industry leaders addressing the future of travel agents and the development of online travel bookings.
The seminar programme also includes a session on Web 2.0 presented by TravelMole managing director Graham McKenzie.
Opening hours of the exhibition, which last year attracted more than 23,000 trade visitors from 108 countries, have been moved to run between 11.00 and 19.00 in a bid to help avoid the Dubai traffic peaks.
Exhibition director Simon Press said interest in the show from exhibitors and visitors alike would make the event far more successful than last year’s.
He stressed that the focus was on the quality of visitors.
“We are tracking well on pre-registration figures and the quality is very high as well,†said Press.
This reflects efforts by the organisers, Reed Travel Exhibitions, to enhance the B2B feel of the show, including the seminars being run on the show floor for the first time at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.
The show’s online portal www.arabiantravelmarket.com has been set up to assist with matching visitors with exhibitors to enhance productivity levels for all those attending.
The Thursday of the event will have a specific travel agent focus before opening to consumers on the Friday.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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