The region's biggest travel and tourism event, Arabian Travel Market, opened today (April 24) in Dubai, UAE, welcoming visitors and trade professions from all across the world.

The region’s leading industry showcase welcomes over 2,600 confirmed exhibitors – with 100 exhibiting for the first time – across 65 national pavilions to the 24th edition.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, toured the exhibition.

Sheikh Mohammed was joined by dignitaries including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group; and Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Running until April 27, ATM 2017 will look into the latest industry trend of experiential travel as its main theme and feature four days of business networking opportunities, insightful seminars and ministerial meetings, at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Simon Press, senior exhibition director, ATM, said: “We have visitors registered from all corners of the globe and all facets of the hospitality industry for what promises to be the biggest show yet in the event’s 24-year history.

“The growth and scale of ATM 2017 is testament to the buoyant travel and tourism industry here in the Mena region. It is no secret the growth we observe in the regional industry is spurred by visionary national agendas and a favourable and thriving business environment. With a series of mega-events scheduled for the coming years, including Expo 2020, this growth will undoubtedly continue.”

ATM Buyers Club Speed Networking kicked off day 1, seeing buyers and exhibitors from across the globe come together to strike deals and do valuable business. Exhibitors and senior buyers got five focused minutes together to talk leads, deals and business.

How to increase promotional activities to attract more visitors from two of the future’s biggest inbound source markets: China and India was up for discussion on the ATM Global Stage earlier today.

According to data, China counts an average of 122 million outbound tourists annually and India contributes 22 million, with overseas spending calculated to be $252 billion and $15.4 billion respectively in 2015.

Filippo Sona, director, head of hotels Mena region, Colliers International, said: “The growing middle class and cheaper flight options are transforming the outbound travel landscape for these two countries, with a combined 146 million passport holders.

Debrah Dhugga, managing director, Dukes London and Dukes Dubai, said: “The GCC is home to a number of globally-recognised tourist attractions and continues to draw visitors from all over the world as a result. As markets in Europe and other GCC countries continue to feel the pressure of low oil prices and depreciated currency rates, it is key that tourism bodies and private sector hospitality, travel and tourism brands continue to explore new markets.

“The growth seen from China and India has driven tourist arrivals across the region over the near past and we have seen this reflected in our recent guest profiles,” he said.

Banking on the growing visitor numbers, international hospitality groups including Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental are eyeing the Middle East for expansion with major hotel projects signed at ATM and hotel openings scheduled for the year.

Marriott continues to strengthen its position across the Middle East and Africa region, with a remarkable 29 new properties set to open in 2017 with a total of 6,815 rooms, the group revealed at ATM today. The new additions will bolster Marriott International’s existing collection of 247 hotels and 54,000 rooms in 30 countries across the region.

Hospitality group Hilton also revealed its GCC expansion plans, unveileing the largest active pipeline in the GCC, according to data from market research firm STR, with over 21,000 rooms in its pipeline across the Gulf of which more than 16,000 are already under construction and set to open before 2020.

InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the world’s leading global hotel companies, today announced four new hotel signings as well as six new hotel openings across the GCC in 2017 at ATM, indicating its continued expansion across the MEA region in multiple segments, including luxury, business, family, and lifestyle.  - TradeArabia News Service