KUWAIT: Kuwaiti exhibitors will stage the GCC's second largest participation, after the United Arab Emirates, at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2007 - the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event in Dubai this May.
To date, twelve companies from Kuwait have signed up and will be represented in the country's pavilion at ATM 2007, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from May 1 - 4. This will be Kuwait's 11th ATM participation.
Kuwait experienced a nine per cent increase in visitors in the first half of 2006 compared to 2004, according to a recent report by Oxford Business Group, the world's leading publisher of business intelligence guides.
The World Travel and Tourism Council in its 2007 Travel and Tourism economic research has predicted a 15 per cent growth for Kuwaiti tourism which is expected to generate revenues worth $13.7 billion in economic activity for the country. The addition of budget carrier Jazeera Airways to Kuwait's aviation inventory and its recent announcement of Dubai as a second operational hub is expected to increase visitors to the country.
The recent opening of the Failaka Heritage Village, operated by Safir Hotels and Resorts is expected to encourage tourism into the country. The Failaka Island Development Project will add 4000 rooms and chalets to the island with 12 hotels, a marina and harbour for up to 300 boats.
Safir Hotels and Resorts will be among other Kuwaiti exhibitors including Assist-Card, Destinations of the World, Ibis Salmiya and Ibis Sharq, Hilton Kuwait Resort, Kempinski Hotel Julai'a, Marriott Hotels, Mashaer Haj & Umra Services Consortium, Nuzha Touristic Development, Oqyana, Refad Hotels & Resorts, Sixt Kuwait, Switch Software, Travel Trends and the State of Kuwait, confirmed so far for the event. Kuwait is also seen by show organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) as a high potential market for visitors.
"Visitor registrations for ATM 2007 are up on last year and of these nearly 250 buyers have expressed a specific interest in Kuwait's tourism product. We are confident this will increase in the run-up to the show," said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director - Overseas Events, RTE.
RTE is also confident of attracting more tourism professionals from Kuwait to the event. "Given the importance of tourism to the region's economies, and considering sector growth and its potential to generate employment, we are confident of beating last year's tally of nearly 350 travel trade professionals from Kuwait who attended the event," said Walsh.
"The Hosted Buyer Programme(r) will bring 150 top international high-spend buyers, including 60 specialists from the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions and 90 from the leisure segments. We are confident of attracting buyers that have never attended the show before."
ATM 2007 has already attracted exhibitors from 53 countries, including 51 national and regional pavilions with the number expected to grow over the next few weeks leading up to the event. "So far, 61 first-time exhibitors have signed up for the show, that include destination management companies, Asian and European travel technology specialists, African and Asian health resorts and spas as well as travel and tour operators," added Walsh.
"Croatia, Zimbabwe, Macau and Taiwan are four first-time destinations that will be represented at the show this year. Participants from China and Peru will make their debut at the show ensuring representation from all five continents.
"One of the key changes we have made to this year's event, after conducting many exhibitor feedback sessions, is creating a dedicated tourism development pavilion, which will feature all the spectacular projects being built across the region." Meanwhile the highly successful seminar programme will have 12 informative sessions that will tackle important industry topics and feature international speakers.
"Top representatives from leading travel and tourism organisations such as PATA, Costa Cruises, Virgin Galactic, Easy Hotels, Eurosport, and publishers Motivate Publishing and NPI Media, as well as international consultancies FutureBrand and Whisper will be hosting these seminars," said Lucie Dawkins, Marketing Manager, ATM.
"We anticipate yet another power-packed, headline-making event with important announcements from regional and international hotels chains, airlines and other travel and tourism service providers." This year Trident Communications Dubai has been appointed the official Arabian Travel Market show daily publisher and will produce it on the first three days of the event on behalf of RTE.
ATM partners include Emirates - the official airline for the event, Hyatt Hotels which will provide accommodation to hosted media and buyers, and American Express - the official payment card, which will have an exclusive Amex lounge at the show allowing cardholders to stage meetings in this facility. Amex cardholders also gain complimentary entry into the event for the consumer sessions on Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4.
Net Tours is the official ground handler for the event and in addition, RTE is working closely with the DICEC and The Big Bus Company to ensure visitors to the show are able to easily commute to and from the venue. Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, government of Dubai.
© Kuwait Times 2007
