Leading Analyst to Unveil Full Middle East Report At Arabian Travel Market 2010
Dubai, UAE. April 2010: The United Arab Emirates’ incoming tourism spend will increase by AED4.9 billion to AED32.4 billion by 2014, up from AED27.5 billion in 2009, as the country seeks to increase overall visitor number from 8.7 million to 10.4 million in the same period, says the world’s leading consumer market analyst, Euromonitor International.
According to the company’s Middle East report – which will be fully unveiled during next month’s Arabian Travel Market 2010, running 4-7th May at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre – Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and India will make up the top three nations for incoming tourist receipts in the UAE.
Saudi Arabian tourism spend is forecast to grow from AED4.3 billion in 2009 to AED5.4 billion by 2014, whilst UK visitors will represent increases of AED4.3 billion to AED5.1 billion in the same period. Indian visitors, which represent growth of 2.4% growth per annum to AED3.2 billion in 2014, are narrowly ahead of other top contributing nations; Russia, Iran, Germany, Oman and Pakistan.
In terms of UAE visitor numbers, the report says the UK will make up the largest number, increasing from just over one million in 2009 to 1.2 million by 2014. Saudi Arabian numbers will grow from 856,000 to approximately 1 million whilst third placed Russia will see increases from 689,000 to 783,200.
Caroline Bremner, Global Travel and Tourism Manager, Euromonitor International, who will unveil the report as part of Arabian Travel Market’s expanded 2010 seminar programme, said: “Faced with a global economic crisis of epic proportions, the Middle East has suffered a slowdown in travel and tourism demand from key source markets. With continued investment in infrastructure, and strategic vision in place, the Middle East continues to offer growth opportunities, however, greater commitment to diversification would be wise to ensure the region can meet its full potential.”
Bremner is the latest speaker to be announced for Arabian Travel Market 2010’s new-look seminar programme, which will cover a wide-range of key trends and issues during the 25 sessions planned for the four day event.
Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions – which organises Arabian Travel Market, the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event – said “reports like Euromonitor International’s are a key component of the show’s knowledge delivery credentials and form a critical discussion platform for helping the industry to plan successful recovery efforts.
“Arabian Travel Market has been designed to offer more than business to business networking. We continue to put in place mechanisms for discussion and debate, both key facets in assisting the industry to stay abreast of the latest trends. The content that is covered in the seminar programme helps companies, tourism organisations and countries to stay abreast of the latest trends and to help them effectively map out and implement their tourism strategies going forward. This is ever more relevant given the challenging economic climate,” said Walsh.
Attracting many of the industry’s heavyweights, the free-to-attend seminars, which will be staged on the show floor, will examine trends such as cruise tourism, sports tourism and aviation.
Reed Travel Exhibitions has doubled the size of the 2010 seminar programme, with the sessions being spread across two rooms from the first time in the show’s 16 year history.
This year a stand-alone Debate Room will be introduced which will allow experts from various fields to participate in debates and panel Q&A sessions. This will be complemented by the Single Seminar room, which will host an array of industry leaders to discuss a range of topics in-depth such as luxury tourism, hospitality, human resources, aviation and value travel.
Since its first show in 1994, the Arabian Travel Market has gone from strength to strength, growing in size in terms of exhibitors and visitors. The 2009 Arabian Travel Market witnessed sign-up of over 16,000 visitors covering 110 countries and over 2,100 exhibitors and stand-sharers from over 60 countries, including new-to-market delegates from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Nigeria as well as representation from the private sector in Ecuador, Slovenia and San Marino – making it the third largest edition in the show’s 17 year history.
Over the years Arabian Travel Market has established itself as the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism show and judging by this year’s sign-up this is not something that will change as the show itself evolves and adapts to suit the ever changing market ensuring it provides a one-stop-shop for all of the industry’s needs.
The 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 Government of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
