Mariam Nihal
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH – Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the annual travel trade exhibition, draw a huge number of people from 157 countries after it opened on Monday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the Dubai stand at the ATM on the opening day.
ATM is a four day event, that runs from May 5 to 8. With 2,700 exhibitors, with more than an 8 percent increase from 2013, ATM is expected to see about 21,000 trade visitors. Dedicated to hotels separated by regions and countries, the 25,000-square-meter exhibition center has received thousands of local and international visitors.
ATM is the largest international tourism and hospitality event to be held in the Middle East. This year’s exhibit saw 68 national pavilions and 40 seminars and technology theater sessions.
The opening seminar was held by Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of the DTCM. “Since His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced the Tourism Vision for 2020 at last year’s ATM, the UAE has won the right to host Expo 2020 in Dubai,” he said.
“The first phase of our second international airport has opened at the Dubai World Central and a substantial number of new hotels, attractions and events have opened, taken place or been announced,” he added.
“In addition to UAE federal pre-entry visa regulations on European Union member states being lifted, major legislative changes have been made which will directly and positively impact the tourism sector and enable us to attract more business and leisure travelers.” He said that in this year’s Arabian Travel Market, the exhibits and announcements of Dubai stakeholders will demonstrate that while the city is already seen as a must-visit destination, “a continuous drive to innovate will lead to a constant reinvention of the visitor experience, creating one that is unrivalled anywhere else in the world.”
Qatar Airways, TCA Abu Dhabi, City Seasons Hotel, Emaar Hospitality Group and India Hospitality group held press conferences from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the opening day.
Air Arabia announced lower cheap rates for travel to many places, including Jeddah and Muscat, with discounted prices. Adel Ali, Group CEO spoke about the dynamics of the airline including its plans to expand to Ras Al Khaimah.
Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director of Reed Travel Exhibitions, said that it has been a year of growth not only for the tourism and hospitality industry in the Middle East but for ATM too. He said this year sees more than 120 new exhibitors as debutants.
At the exhibition site, hotels and resorts talked about the offerings to attract tourists to the countries where they operate.
Anders Dimblad, Area General Manager of Ras Al Khaimah for Banyan Tree, spoke to Saudi Gazette about the new favorite luxury resorts in the Middle East.
“We have two properties in Ras Al Khaimah, all villas, on the Beach and the other on the desert. Your arrival experience is by boat. The beach category is very intimate. In the desert we have a lot more facilities available. We have our award winning spas, 10 spa pavilions, therapists trained in Thailand and Indonesia, we have our rainforest — which is our hydrothermal circuit something special to the UAE,” he said.
Omar Acar, General manager at Le Royal Monceau, said the company has properties located at the most prime location in Paris. “We have the biggest suites in Paris. No one has so many suites in a hotel in Paris. I can provide you three suites that are the same for the royal family guests that we have. We have a 24m swimming pool, the largest in any hotel,” he said.
Axel Jarosch, General Manager of Zighy Bay in Oman, told Saudi Gazette that the definition of luxury has evolved in the past decade. “Luxury, 15 years ago was all about glitz and glamor, now it is a lot more discerning. Now the traveler wants quality of service, privacy that allows them to have an experience they can bring back,” he said.
“The word experience is very important these days. For me it is all about identifying the needs of the guests, catering to them and looking at the product I am buying to serve to my guests — like getting organic products, a combination of looking after the environment and community.”
He said Zighy Bay has something different and unusual to provide that experience. “You reach this mountain and then you can paraglide to the hotel. No one else offers that service. It is all about recognizing each individuals needs. We have personalized services for everybody,” he said.
Karim Bizid, General Manager of The Oberoi, Dubai said that when The Oberoi opened in 2013 it promised to “herald a new era of luxury” in the UAE. “Nearly one year after opening we already ranked in the top 10 hotels by Trip Advisor,” he said referring to an online travel guide.
Meanwhile, a 30-man Philippine delegation composed of representatives of hotels, resorts, tour operators, an airline and government officials is all geared up to meet with buyers and consumers at the Arabian Travel Market.
The delegation is headed by Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito C. Bengzon Jr.
The Department of Tourism of the Philippines has identified the Middle East as a priority opportunity market. The region has registered a growth rate of 20.3 percent year-on-year from 57,275 in 2012 to 68,916 in 2013.
Key markets for the Philippines from this region are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which registered 38,969 arrivals and the United Arab Emirates with 15,155.
To strengthen its presence in the region and capitalize on the additional direct flights of Philippine carriers linking Middle East to the country, the DOT has again secured a 100-square-meter Philippine Pavilion using the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” theme.
“We see the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) as an effective platform in promoting the Philippines in the United Arab Emirates and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” said Bengzon. – SG
