The inaugural edition of the Tourism Development Projects & Investment Market (TDIM 2008) exhibition has received a significant boost with Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) confirming participation at the show, said an official spokesman.

TDIM will take place from January 20 to 22, 2008, at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre and will focus on strengthening investment flows, resources and expertise into tourism development in the UAE and elsewhere in the region.

The event is being organised by Reed Exhibitions to provide an ideal marketing platform for the region's tourism destinations. It will also offer operators of globally-known tourism landmarks, networking opportunities to support their expansion plans within the region.

'TDIM provides an opportunity to address the challenges of boosting investment flows and know-how into the region's tourism sector. As the principal authority for the planning, supervision and development of the tourism sector in Dubai, the DTCM seeks to bring about continuous improvements in our promotion efforts and standards of hospitality,' said director general of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) Khalid Ahmed bin Sulayem.

TDIM is likely to take up more than 15,000 square metres of exhibit space at the Dubai International Exhibition & Convention Centre, he added.

'The feedback from the industry since we announced the launch of TDIM has been excellent and major players from the UAE as well as from the rest of the MENA region have confirmed their participation at the show. This is an apt reflection of the impressive investment commitments that MENA countries have been making in tourism-related projects,' said president, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, Frederic Theux.Trade Arabia News Service