WORDS GEMMA GREENWOOD
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ATM proves travel is back The 29th edition of the Middle East’s leading travel and tourism event was a resounding success – a sure sign the industry’s resurgence is accelerating and the region is leading the way
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ABOVE: ATM attracted 23,000 visitors and 30,000 participants RIGHT: SAUDIA won ‘Best Stand Desgin’ and the ‘People’s Choice Award’ JUNE 2022
ith 2022 ushering a new era for travel and tourism in the Gulf – one defined by recovery, resilience and renewed growth, bolstered by the Expo 2020 effect – the industry was expecting the 29th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to be busy. But no one could have anticipated that post-pandemic, more than 23,000 travel sector professionals would head to the show to do business, network, debate and reconnect, up 100 per cent year on year. The latest data from show organiser RX Global reveals the event, staged at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 9-12 under the theme ‘ The Future of International Travel and Tourism’, also attracted 30,000 participants. “In addition to doubling our visitor numbers year on year, ATM 2022 hosted 1,500 exhibitors and attendees from 150 countries,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME for Arabian Travel Market. “These figures are especially impressive given that lockdowns are still taking place in China and other destinations. What’s more, the development of the travel and tourism sector throughout the Middle East region shows no signs of abating,
with GCC hotel construction contract awards set to rise by 16 per cent this year alone.” The four-day live event was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group Chairman of Dubai World and, following the success of the hybrid approach adopted for last year’s edition, the third instalment of ATM Virtual took place on May 17 and 18. “ATM 2022 has provided a timely opportunity for the global travel and tourism sector to gather in Dubai and explore the future of our industry,” said Curtis. “Innovation, sustainability, technology and talent acquisition and retention will be crucial to its long-term success.” These were some of the key themes explored across ATM’s four-day conference programme. DAY 1 The show’s opening session, moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, featured Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing; Scott Livermore, Chief Economist at Oxford Economics; Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, President – Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Hilton; Bilal Kabbani, Industry Head – Travel and Tourism at Google; and Andrew Brown, Regional Director – Europe, Middle East and Oceania at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Livermore noted how events, including Expo 2020 Dubai and the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, were
