THE OFFICIAL SHOW DAILY 6 – 9 May 2013
on page
SPEED & THRILLS CAPTURE VISITOR IMAGINATION
20
Contents 18
22
04 EXHIBITOR NEWS 17 SEMINAR SCHEDULE 18 Focus IT'S ALL IN THE RETAIL 22 Social photos THE OFFICIAL ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET PARTY 24 Focus GOOGLE'S SHOW DEBUT 28 Column RUPPRECHT QUEITSCH 30 EXHIBITOR TRAILS 33 DESTINATION PROFILES 38 EXHIBITOR EXPECTATIONS
01_ATM_2013_D3_COVER_AT.indd 1
3 Wednesday 8 May
on page
26
GET ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
Download the official show App
NORTHERN EMIRATES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
UNWTO: COOPERATE FOR GROWTH The United Nations World Travel Organisation (UNWTO) has called on the tourism and aviation sectors to work in partnership to safeguard the future growth of the global travel market. “There were one billion travellers globally in 2012, yet we still see the tourism and aviation industries that facilitate them working in parallel when they should be working together,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai speaking at yesterday’s UNWTO and Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum. “At least 50 percent of those one billion travelled by air; the
growth of tourism and aviation are intrinsically linked.” He told the 25 tourism ministers and several aviation executives attending the forum, which was staged at Arabian Travel Market for the second year running under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to make their respective governments aware of the “great logic” in intertwining aviation and tourism policies to drive economic prosperity on a local and global scale. “Tourism and air transportation are still not fully recognised in terms of what they can contribute
Illustrious participants at the UNWTO Forum
to the rest of the world,” the Secretary-General emphasised. Rifai identified three issues the industries needed to address to drive tourism growth: economic regulation, with World Bank studies revealing air sector “connectivity and liberalisation are a must”; the impact of overinflated air travel taxes on tourism growth; and the need to abolish “restrictive visa procedures”. “The UAE has been the driving force in opening up visa regulations, but the Middle East is lagging behind, with 70 percent
Mark Walsh (right), presents Benito C Bengzon Jr, Philippines, with the New Frontiers Award
PHILIPPINES CELEBRATES NEW FRONTIERS AWARD The Philippines has received the New Frontiers Award 2013 in recognition of the country’s efforts to rebuild its tourism infrastructure following the catastrophic effects of Typhoon Bopha. “The Philippines, its government and its people have shown remarkable fortitude and a stoic determination to get communities and the local economy back on track following the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Bopha last year; their resilience in the face of such a monumental crisis is commendable,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, who presented Benito C Bengzon Jr, Deputy Minister, Philippines Department of Tourism, with the award during a special seminar yesterday (Tuesday 7 May). “Winning the New Frontiers Award not only recognises the
efforts and resilience of the Filipino community following the typhoon but serves to motivate us to continue to make tourism a national industry in the Philippines,” said Bengzon. “We need to step up our participation at international shows to promote the Philippines more aggressively and participating at Arabian Travel Market is a very effective platform for reaching both the Middle East and global outbound market.” Launched in 2005 by Arabian Travel Market, the New Frontiers Award was created to recognise outstanding contributions to tourism development in the face of overwhelming adversity, supporting the chosen destination by donating exhibition space at the event to the value of US$10,000. Previous recipients include Japan and Chile.
07/05/2013 23:34