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The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has just been moved to a later date as mounting fears about the coronavirus outbreak ripple across the globe.
The region’s biggest tourism and hospitality showcase will now be held on June 28 to July 1, 2020 at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE, instead of next month.
“We at the Arabian Travel Market want to express our express our concern for everyone impacted by coronavirus. Like all of you, we have carefully monitored the global health crisis related to COVID-19 coronavirus,” the organisers said in a statement.
“Our top priority is the health and safety of everyone involved in Arabian Travel Market; employees, partners, customers and exhibitor,” they added.
The annual gathering of inbound and outbound tourism professionals was scheduled to kick off in Dubai on April 19.
The ATM is one of the largest exhibitions in the Arab world and draws delegates from the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors from across the globe, generating more than $2.5 billion in business deals.
Every year, the four-day event attracts more than 39,000 participants worldwide, with the end view of further stimulating spending on hotel rooms, travel and tour bookings.
In a statement issued on Monday, organisers said that while the UAE is following the “strictest medical and hygiene protocols” to combat the spread of the coronavirus, they have decided that it is “in the best interest of the industry” to move the event.
“The announcement has been made at the earlier opportunity to give as much notice as possible to all stakeholders enabling them to make the necessary arrangements to reschedule their plans, and ensure even stronger attendance in June,” organisers said.
“We are fully aware of the role that ATM 2020 plays for industry professionals across the Middle East region and beyond, we are grateful for the full endorsement that we have received from our customers and partners.”
The virus has now spread to more than 100 countries and infected more than 100,000 people.
(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Mily Chakrabarty)
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