- Arabian Travel Market 2024 will continue to go beyond leisure, highlighting how business, luxury and MICE travel are impacting destinations, hotels and airlines
- The 31st edition of ATM will explore how travel and tourism are driving economic growth and sustainable development across the Middle East and beyond
- From 6-9 May 2024, the global travel and tourism community will meet at DWTC to share knowledge and identify opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 24 October 2023: Attendees from around the world will explore opportunities spanning the full spectrum of travel and tourism – including leisure, business, luxury and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) – at the 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the UAE from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024.
Revenue in the global travel and tourism market is projected to reach $854.7 billion this year, according to research conducted by Statista. The sector is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.42 per cent during the period 2023-27, passing the trillion-dollar mark within the next four years.
Allied Market Research valued the global business travel market at $689.7 billion in 2021, predicting that the segment would grow to $2.1 trillion by 2031. The global luxury travel market, meanwhile, is on course to pass $440 billion by the end of this decade, according to research from Coherent Market Insights. The MICE segment also continues to make valuable contributions in GCC countries such as the UAE, where DWTC’s most recent Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) Annual Report estimated that the venue’s total economic output – across 63 large-scale events – exceeded $3.5 billion in 2022.
In line with ATM 2024’s theme of ‘Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’,attendees will consider how the segments of leisure, business, luxury and MICE are driving economic growth and sustainable development across destinations, hospitality and aviation, creating fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors from across the Middle East and beyond.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Holidaymakers represent a crucial focus for the Middle East’s travel community, but leisure is only one component of a much bigger picture. Business, luxury and MICE travel are also making significant contributions to economic growth and sustainable development, with Statista predicting a global market volume of more than $1 trillion by 2027.
“It is therefore no surprise that the travel and tourism sector is creating unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, thousands of whom will showcase their innovations, exchange ideas and forge new partnerships at ATM 2024,” she added.
The travel and tourism sector is on course to contribute $49.18 billion to the UAE economy alone in 2023, according to figures released by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). This figure is predicted to reach $64.12 billion by 2033, accounting for an impressive 10.2 per cent of the nation’s GDP.
As the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry continues to mature, it is expected to create new jobs and income for millions of people from across the globe. The UAE Government, for instance, estimates that the country’s travel and tourism market will support 770,000 jobs by 2027. At the same time, the sector is expected to generate ever-increasing revenues for regional economies – Gulf travellers spending approximately 6.5 times more than tourists from other parts of the world, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO).
Sustainable development will represent another key focus at ATM 2024 as the show builds on the net-zero commitments outlined during its milestone 30th edition. Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism (DET), ATM’s Destination Partner, will showcase its ongoing efforts to protect the environment and secure a greener and more sustainable future for the emirate. Pioneering initiatives such as Dubai Sustainable Tourism, Dubai Can and Dubai Carbon Calculator – coupled with the city’s hosting of COP28 later this year – will provide the ideal backdrop for ATM attendees looking to identify opportunities related to responsible tourism in the UAE and the wider Middle East.
Thanks to the region’s business-friendly approach to policymaking, tax-free salaries and ongoing visa reforms, GCC countries accounted for five of the top 10 global destinations where expatriates find it easiest to settle, according to a report from InterNations. In Q1 2023, a Magnitt report revealed that Saudi Arabia led the region in venture capital investment for startups, while the UAE topped the list in terms of number of exits. As such, the upcoming edition of ATM will offer the perfect forum for speakers, panellists and audience members to explore opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors operating in the Middle East’s travel and tourism space.
Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024’s strategic partners include the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates, Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner; and Al Rais Travel, Official DMC Partner.
The latest ATM news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/.
To register your interest in attending ATM 2024 or to submit a stand enquiry, visit https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/enquire.html.
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For more information, log on to wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), now in its 31st year, is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2023 welcomed over 40,000 attendees and hosted over 30,000 visitors, including more than 2,100 exhibitors and representatives from over 150 countries, across 10 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai
Next in-person event: 6 to 9 May 2024, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
Arabian Travel Week is a festival of events taking place from 6 to 12 May, within and alongside Arabian Travel Market 2024. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Influencers’ events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, as well as ATM Travel Tech. It also features the ATM Buyer Forums, as well as a series of country forums.
https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html
About RX (Reed Exhibitions)
RX is in the business of building businesses for individuals, communities and organisations. We elevate the power of face-to-face events by combining data and digital products to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at approximately 400 events in 22 countries across 42 industry sectors. RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.rxglobal.com
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 35,000 people, over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
*Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are:
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Next live event: 6 to 8 November 2023 at ExCel London.
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Next event: 15 to 17 April 2024 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
Next event: 10 to 12 April 2024 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. https://atwconnect.com
WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/