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| Arabian Travel Market Turns on the Tap for 'Just a Drop' Organisers' of Arabian Travel Market are set to give the 'Just A Drop' charity - a small non-profit organisation which saves the lives of children by providing clean water close to their homes - an added boost this year with the announcement that show exhibitors will be asked to give a donation upon signing up. As the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event, Arabian Travel Market attracts over a 1,000 exhibitors from across the globe, meaning that a sizeable donation to the cause could be made. In addition, Reed Travel Exhibitions will make a donation to the charity on behalf of the Middle East's media. "I believe Just a Drop is a great cause. Not only is water a universal and basic need, fundamental to human life, but also the charity is highly efficient. Through the Arabian Travel Market, we are giving exhibitors, visitors and the media an opportunity to give something meaningful to a worth initiative, " said Simon Press, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market. The charity, celebrating its 10th birthday this year, started at World Travel Market - Reed Travel Exhibitions business to business flagship exhibition. Since then, the charity has raised over £8,900,000 and helped more than 800,000 people in 25 countries, thanks to the help of organisations and companies covering many industries. "I cannot express in words what this means to Just a Drop and the thousands of children and their families across the world who will benefit from Reed's continuing support, " said the charity's founder Fiona Jeffery. "Every day 5,000 children die because they are denied clean water. Reed's generous support of Just a Drop means the gift of life. The situation remains desperate in many parts of the world, even though the cost of installing a protected well can be as little as £3,000." The money raised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, and its parent company, Reed Exhibitions, goes to building protected wells and other water-related projects in some of the most remote areas of the globe, assisted by The Scientific Exploration Society. "The problem that Just a Drop is tackling is huge", said Jeffery. "In 2000, for example, the United Nations stated that all governments should halve the proportion of people denied their right to clean water by 2015. But at current funding levels, this will not happen until 2105,90 years later. "Yet the solution is inexpensive. Just a Drop got its name because just £1.00 provides water to a child for nearly ten years". Arabian Travel Market, which takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (DIECC) on 6-9 May, is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Exhibition News :: home page |