Corporate and meetings business in the Middle East has bounced back from the global economic crisis and looks set to achieve strong growth in 2013, new market data has revealed.

 

Business travel budgets are once again on the rise and more business people in the region are travelling, according to statistics from research firm YouGov in its latest ‘Travel Oracle’ report gauging UAE and Saudi Arabia traveller attitudes and habits.

 

Report results are supported by the positive 2013 prospects reported by key exhibitors at this year’s Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), which takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from March 25-27.

 

Abu Dhabi, Oman and Turkey are all anticipating robust growth in meetings business from 2013 onwards with key enhancements to the infrastructure of each destination, particularly new venues, airports, hotels and convention centres, proving a key growth driver, a statement said.

 

YouGov’s oracle found that in 2012, more than two in five travellers reported an increase in business travel budget (42 per cent compared to 35 per cent in 2010 and 41 per cent in 2011).  Nearly half of respondents (47 per cent) expected to increase their business travel in the next 12 months.

 

“These positive market indicators reflect the sentiments of GIBTM exhibitors, who are all anticipating a boost in corporate and meetings business in 2013, both from the region and international markets,” said GIBTM exhibition manager Lois Hall.

 

Abu Dhabi, the home of GIBTM, is focusing on congress business and in 2012, tourism body TCA Abu Dhabi and its stakeholders won bids for a number of future events. They include 2013 congresses such as the International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology and the Institute of Travel & Tourism conference and in 2015, the 16th World Congress on Tobacco or Health which attracts 2,500 delegates. 

 

Now in its seventh year, GIBTM attracts in excess of 2,400 industry professionals annually. 

 

Also confirmed this year is a series of interactive sessions about Business Travel Management hosted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). – TradeArabia News Service