Largest Arabian Travel Market Seminar Programme Planned For 2009

contents

asia

Reed Travel Exhibitions, the company behind Arabian Travel Market - the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event running this May in Dubai, UAE - has announced that it will be increasing its seminar programme for 2009 to better facilitate high-level discussions on countering the harsh trading conditions incumbent in the current economic climate. This year's seminar programme will include up to 16 free-to-attend sessions, with more than 25 industry leaders speaking over the show's first three trade-only days.

The sessions will cover a wide range of key industry issues such as the rise of spa tourism, maximising business opportunities in the growing Middle East cruise industry; the outlook for the Gulf's MICE industry and the future of air travel in the Middle East.

"The current economic climate is generating some of the most severe operating conditions the travel & tourism industry has ever faced. We firmly believe that discussion, debate and examining solutions are going to be essential factors in the sector's recovery, and this needs to begin happening sooner rather than later, " said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

"Based on demand, we have decided to enhance Arabian Travel Market's seminar programme for 2009. We have been in discussion with exhibitors, travel bodies, organisations and the media to develop a seminar programme and speaker line-up that tackles those issues most critical to our future success. As a free-of-charge initiative, I strongly advise our exhibitors and visitors to make the most out of these sessions."

Adding its weight to the seminar programme again this year is Travel & Tourism News (TTN), who will be Media Seminar Programme Partners. Under the sponsorship, TTN, one of the Middle East's leading industry magazines, will add high-level consultation on the programme, speakers and session development.

"TTN is very pleased to sponsor Arabian Travel Market's successful seminar programmes once again for 2009. These programmes provide excellent insight to the regional travel business relevant to MENA and provide the opportunity for the travel trade to interact with leading industry opinion makers, " said Kim Thompson, Publishing Director, TTN Middle East.

Destination and company sign-up for the Arabian Travel Market 2009, which is running at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5-8th May, is picking up pace, with organisers confirming that space bookings are up this year, over the same period last year.

To date, more than 400 exhibitors representing 62 countries have signed up for the show, with more than 30 exhibitors making their debuts. In addition, the exhibition has seen steady overall space uptake by nearly 60 national tourist bodies representing six continents, including new-to-market showings from Mozambique, Philippines, Ecuador and Slovenia.

Reed Travel Exhibitions recently confirmed that it would expand its Hosted Buyers programme to 150 top international, first time participants for 2009 – up from 120 last year – to foster greater business interaction.

In addition, its also announced that a host of other initiatives will take centre stage in 2009, including Careers Day - which will enable meetings between exhibitors and public with a keen interest in working within the industry or developing an existing career - and Travel Agents Day – which is designed to foster the latest top-class travel and tourism education among travel agents.

Arabian Travel Market 2009 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 DTCM.

write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Exhibition News :: home page