Friday 29 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

UNWTO forum focus on Mideast aviation

Dubai, December 25, 2012

The role of aviation in driving Middle East tourism sector growth and influence policy will form the agenda for a special World Travel Organisation (UNWTO) forum at the 2013 edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

The forum will take place on May 7 under the theme ‘Aviation and Tourism Policies: Balancing the Benefits’ during the ATM, which is running from May 6 to 9 at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

“The theme for this year’s forum is particularly relevant, and timely, as IATA reports indicate that the Middle East will handle 400 million air travellers by 2020 as a number of new state-of-the-art airports come on line, major carriers expand their route networks, and aircraft orders from the Gulf region add new capacity,” said Mark Walsh, portfolio director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of Arabian Travel Market.

“Route network expansion for the Middle East’s major carriers is driving domestic and international tourism demand. Regional aviation sector growth forecasts remain positive through to 2020, buoyed by up to US$90 billion worth of investment into infrastructure expansion in key gateway destinations,” he added.

A full schedule of events and networking sessions will mark the 20th anniversary of the Arabian Travel Market exhibition with air travel one of the eight major vertical sectors during the weeklong event, alongside budget travel, careers, health and wellbeing, luxury, shopping, sports, and cruise and water-based travel.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the 2012 edition of the Middle East’s leading travel exhibition showcased 2,436 exhibitors covering over 20,000 sq m and attracted more than 23,000 attendees. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Dubai | tourism | Arabian Travel Market | aviation | forum | UNWTO |

More Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads