The upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2016 in Dubai, UAE will once again provide a platform to raise awareness and funds for the Just a Drop water aid programme with a focus on one of the charity’s Africa projects.

Jointly sponsored by ATM and WTM (World Travel Market) London, the Mpumpule Community Borehole initiative in Zambia has raised combined exhibitor donations of $30,632 from ATM 2015 and WTM London 2015.

Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of both annual travel trade events, has supported Just a Drop since 1998 and will once again ask exhibiting companies to donate a contracted nominal donation when signing up to participate in the 23rd edition of Arabian Travel Market, running from April 25 to 28 at Dubai International Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The project aims to provide the 160-person community with permanent access to clean and safe water from a dedicated borehole fitted with a hand pump. In addition, it will help reduce water borne and sanitation related diseases, and give local women and girls the opportunity to focus on their education, effectively cutting down on the time required to collect water from other sources.

“An estimated 4,000 children die every day from water borne diseases, and Just a Drop is committed to effecting meaningful lifelong change in the communities in which it is present,” said Simon Press, senior exhibition director, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) and World Travel Market London (WTM London).

“The tourism industry is also at the heart of communities around the world, and in supporting this initiative we are able to disseminate the message to an influential global audience, and hopefully accelerate this change for the future benefit of those in need,”  he added.

Established in 1998, Just a Drop was launched under the premise that a donation of just £1 can help provide access to clean water for a child for up to 10 years, and with an estimated 4,000 children dying every day from water borne diseases, this can be eradicated.

The charity’s projects support communities through the construction of wells, boreholes, pipelines, hand pumps and latrines, and establish health and sanitation programmes for some of the poorest communities in the world. Its ultimate goal is to reduce child mortality by delivering clean, safe water where it is needed most.

“As well as providing a basic human right, this is a fantastic way to empower people in the community, with a local water and sanitation committee established and trained to maintain and repair the water system, thereby bringing new skills to Mpumpule’s inhabitants and developing local capability,” said Brendan Hanlon, head of Fundraising and Communications, Just a Drop.

ATM 2016 will once again feature a packed agenda of activities with this year’s spotlight theme mid-market travel, along with other highlights including spa and wellness, technology, halal tourism, business travel, technology, responsible tourism, shopping, aviation, culture and heritage, and adventure travel.

ATM 2016 will build on the success of this year’s edition with the announcement of an additional hall as Reed Travel Exhibitions looks to add to its record-breaking achievements earlier this year. ATM 2015 witnessed a year-on-year visitor attendance increase of 15 per cent to over 26,000, with exhibiting companies increasing by 5 per cent to 2,873. Business deals worth more than $2.5 billion were signed over the four days.  – TradeArabia News Service