The fourth annual International Travel Catering Association (ITCA) Dubai Exhibition will receive positive leverage from the growing Middle East passenger traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association (Iata).

The Dubai World Trade Centre, (DWTC) in association with ITCA, has formally announced the fourth ITCA Dubai Exhibition is to be held from the October 27 to 29 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The ITCA Dubai 2009 conference will also be held alongside the exhibition.

According to Iata, the positive growth in Middle East passenger traffic is in indication that the region will play an increasingly important role in suppliers’ business development and investment strategy.

Iata had reported a growth of 3.6 per cent in Middle East passenger traffic in January as compared to 2008 against a worldwide fall of 5.6 per cent for the same period.

“The event in Dubai is growing in popularity with operators, suppliers and caterers all focused on the world’s most exciting and vibrant region,” said David Young, president, ITCA.

“ITCA is again excited to be partnering with the DWTC for our Middle East Conference and Tradeshow in 2009,” he added.

The event has expanded rapidly in recent years to bring together the entire travel catering market representing airline, cruise, ferry, and railway hospitality industries from across the Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent.

Julian Roach, project manager at the DWTC, said: “Dubai is the perfect location for such an event – a recognised business hub for the Middle East and ten Middle East airports are building enough capacity to handle 320 million passengers per annum by 2012.

“Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports alone increased their annual passenger handling capacity by a total of 32 million passengers with the opening of new terminals for Etihad and Emirates Airlines.

“If one factors in that the Gulf has also become the major internal hub for the winter cruise season with Royal Caribbean, Costa Cruises and Silversea all planning to use Dubai as the winter cruise destination and the new cruise terminal development based at Port Rashid as part of the major Nakheel waterfront project, it’s not surprising that the event has become such an important showcase for suppliers keen to expand operations here.” – TradeArabia News Service