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Dubai: Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2008, the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event, opens today with its largest ever exhibitor base of 2,208 participants from 70 countries - an eight per cent increase over the 2007 edition.
Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organisers of ATM - which will be held at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (DIECC) until May 9 - said that floorspace bookings from international representatives in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa had grown by 10 per cent and Middle East companies increasing their allocation by five per cent.
The 2008 show also boasts of close to 90 new-to-market exhibitors, as well as increased space uptake from over 62 national tourist bodies with products and services representing 70 countries, including show debutants Bangladesh, Philippines, Djibouti, Georgia, Senegal and Nepal.
"Over the years, the ATM has evolved in tandem with the regional travel and tourism industry's growth and development. The show's evolution has been a continuous process and reflects the Middle East's emergence as one of the world's most prominent and exciting tourism hubs," said Richard Mortimore, managing director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
"The increased regional and international exhibitor participation is a clear indication of this market's expansion. The diversification of the products and services on display further underlines the industry's growing dynamism and competitiveness."
Entering its 15th anniversary edition, the show has also expanded its hosted buyer programme and is bringing in 120 top international, first-time hosted buyers to ATM 2008, up from 100 last year.
The programme has targeted specialists from the leisure and golf segment and meetings sector to create the biggest portfolio to date - a unique opportunity for the region's travel and tourism industry to meet the right partners in a convenient one-stop-shop setting.
"The ATM plays an important role in promoting Dubai. The DTCM has gone to great lengths this year to make ATM as successful as ever. We have increased our co-participants, produced hosted buyers' booklets and will also stage a UAE and Dubai heritage display on the stand," said Saleh Al Geziry, director - overseas promotions, DTCM.
Al Geziry added that 132 co-participants from Dubai will display their services and products on the stand and that hosted buyers have been invited to come and experience first hand what the emirate has to offer.
Reed Travel Exhibitions will also be staging a 15-session seminar programme, which will be housed on the show floor for the first time.
To try and ease access to and from the venue, the organisers have also changed the opening hours to 11am to 7pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - which are trade-only days, with Friday being the consumer day.
This year, adults should pay an entry fee of Dh20 while American Express card members and accompanied youngsters under 16 are allowed in free.
The event's signature awards scheme, the New Frontiers Awards, will be staged for the third time in 2008.
Event
Exhibition timings
- May 6 1-7pm Meridian Club and trade visitors
- May 7 11am-7pm Meridian Club and trade visitors
- May 8 11am-7pm Meridian Club and trade visitors
- May 9 4-9pm Meridian Club, trade and consumer visitors
Free car parking is available in car parks B and C, opposite the Novotel hotel, and car park F, adjacent to Za'abeel Hall. Shuttle buses will run continuously from 9am between these areas and the exhibition hall entrances near the Novotel and Ibis hotels.
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