• Arrivals from India, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, UK and Pakistan dominating increase in visitors to UAE by 2021

An additional three million international visitors are expected to visit the UAE during Expo 2020, with arrivals from India, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, UK and Pakistan driving this influx, according to the latest data released ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from Sunday 19 – Wednesday 22 April 2020.

The research from Colliers International, in partnership with ATM, predicts the number of Indian visitors travelling to the UAE will increase by 770,000 between 2020 and 2021, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia will increase 240,000, Philippines and UK both 150,000 and Pakistan 140,000, during the same time period.

Looking to acquire their share of these high-growth markets at ATM 2020, will be the
tourism boards from the UAE’s seven emirates with major exhibits from Dubai, Abu
Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain as well as a variety of other UAE exhibitors including Emirates, Emaar Hospitality Group and Abu Dhabi Airports.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), said: "Not only will Expo 2020 increase international arrivals to the UAE and showcase the country as a major global tourism hub – it has also provided the country with the opportunity to expand its world-class hospitality offerings; upgrade its airports and transport infrastructure; and develop an expansive array or new retail, leisure and entertainment facilities as well as diversifying its key source markets by reaching out to new and emerging markets.”

At present, the Middle East and Africa remains the overall top source market for the UAE, however, there appears to be a changing dynamic as we look ahead, with the Asia pacific market set to become the largest source of arrivals in the UAE – witnessing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.8% until 2024 - driven in large by the populous Indian subcontinent.

“The introduction of a new multi-entry five-year tourist visa will not only drive more frequent travel to the country and longer stays but it will also allow for a whole host of new airline routes, making the country more accessible to a host of first time tourists from emerging markets – providing a boost to overall tourist spend and further stimulating the UAE’s GDP impact,” Curtis added.

As the UAE gears up to welcome 25 million visitors for Expo 2020, the country’s hospitality sector will play a major role in ensuring the success of the global event, as well as securing a significant number of travellers who will be keen to return to the emirates for a visit post-Expo.

According to the latest data from STR, Dubai had more than 120,000 hotel rooms as of February 2020, with a goal of completing 160,000 hotel rooms by October 2020 to meet the anticipated demand generated by Expo 2020.

Despite average occupancy rates reaching 73% - one of the highest in the world – during the first nine months of 2019, Dubai Tourism reported a decline in RevPar from AED 337 in 2018 to AED 295 in 2019, primarily driven by softening ADR – which dropped from AED 451 in 2018 to AED 400 in 2019 – in response to increased competition from new hotel supply.

As we look ahead to the next 12 months, the outlook for the hospitality sector in the UAE is positive, with demand in the market strong – backed by an increasing number of arrivals from key and emerging markets as a result of Expo 2020 which is now a mere few months away and the imminent introduction of a new tourist visa.

“And, looking to ATM 2020, with exhibitors from the UAE occupying more than 45% of overall stand space on the show floor, we look forward to facilitating business opportunities that will drive the unprecedented level of development planned for the emirate’s hospitality and tourism market,” Curtis added.

ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed almost 40,000 people to its 2019 event with representation from 150 countries. With over 100 exhibitors making their debut, ATM 2019 showcased the largest ever exhibition from Asia.

Adopting Events for Tourism Growth as the official show theme, ATM 2020 will build on the success of this year’s edition with a host of seminar sessions discussing the impact events have on tourism growth in the region while inspiring the travel and hospitality industry about the next generation of events.

For more news about ATM, please visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com/media-centre/Press-Releases/ 

ATM 2020 visitor and media registration are open. To register as a visitor, please click here.

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About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East – introducing both inbound and outbound tourism professionals to over 2,500 of the most breath-taking destinations, attractions and brands as well as the very latest cutting-edge technologies. Attracting almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 150 countries, ATM prides itself on being the hub of all travel and tourism ideas – providing a platform to discuss insights on the ever-changing industry, share innovations and unlock endless business opportunities over the four days.  New to ATM 2020 will be Travel Forward, a high-end travel and hospitality innovation event, dedicated conference summits and ATM buyer forums for key source markets India, Saudi Arabia and Russia as well as the inaugural Arival Dubai @ ATM – a dedicated in-destination forum. www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com

Next event: Sunday 19 to Wednesday 22 April 2020 – Dubai #IdeasArriveHere

About Arabian Travel Week

Arabian Travel Week is a festival of events taking place within and alongside Arabian Travel Market 2020. The week will include ILTM Arabia, the inaugural Travel Forward, a new travel tech and hospitality innovation event launching this year, and Arival Dubai @ ATM, a dedicated in-destination forum. Additionally, it will host ATM Buyer Forums for key source markets India, Saudi Arabia and Russia and ATM Speed Networking events. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector – under one roof over the course of one week.www.arabiantravelweek.com

Next event: Thursday 16 to Thursday 23 April 2020 – Dubai

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether it is global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, LGBTQ+ travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf and spa travel. We have over 40 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.

About World Travel Market

World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises four leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. In addition to ATM, the events are:

WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Around 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating over £3.71 billion in travel industry contracts. http://london.wtm.com/

Next event: Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November 2020 – London #IdeasArriveHere

WTM Latin America attracts about 9,000 senior executives and generates about US$374 million of new business deals. Taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this show attracts a global audience to meet and shape the direction of the travel industry. More than 8,000 unique visitors, including buyers and travel agents, attend the event to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry news. http://latinamerica.wtm.com/

Next event: Tuesday 31 March to Thursday 2 April 2020 – Sao Paulo

WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. Around 5,000 travel industry professionals attend Africa’s leading inbound and outbound travel and tourism market. WTM Africa delivers a proven mix of hosted buyers, media, pre-scheduled appointments, on-site networking, evening functions and invited travel trade visitors. http://africa.wtm.com/

Next event: Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 April 2020 – Cape Town

Media contact:
NATHALIE VISELE
Director
Arjaan Office Tower, Dubai Media City
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 457 6525
E-mail: nathalie.visele@shamalcomms.com
Website: www.shamalcomms.com     

© Press Release 2020

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