Category Archives: Exhibitions

FITUR 2025, taking place from 22 to 26 January, organised by IFEMA MADRID, will be highlighting the strong tourism potential between Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where around ten companies will be exhibiting their tourism offers at the trade fair, mainly tour operators and Dubai’s iconic Atlantis Hotel, among others. The recovery of the Persian Gulf has been faster and stronger than that of other markets, with an economy that is growing above the OECD average and with higher spending and disposable income per consumer. Thus, the tourism sector in both territories has significant potential for developing specialised products. Spain experienced a record year for tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in 2023 with unprecedented growth in both the number of travellers and tourism expenditure. The total number of GCC residents visiting Spain in 2023 reached 434,000, 33% more than in 2022, with an average stay of 8.6 days. Specifically, visitors from the UAE totalled more than 140,000 and spending grew by 37.8%, with an average spend of 2,668 euros, 26% more than in 2022. According to industry sources, around 200,000 Spanish tourists visit Dubai every year. In 2023, tourists from the Gulf region spent more than 1.138 billion euros in Spain, 64.7% more than in 2022, according to Turespaña estimates based on INE data (Frontur and Egatur). These travellers are considered as “large consumers”, with spending well above their European counterparts. Connectivity with Spain is very good and airlines have increased in all the countries of the Persian Gulf, both in terms of frequency and new routes. In the forecasts for flights from the UAE between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025, capacity to Spain has …

Key industry trends – including innovation, connectivity and customisation – will be front and centre at the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 28 April to 1 May 2025. Each year, ATM addresses issues reshaping the international travel landscape, and 2025 will be no exception. In line with its theme, ‘Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity’, ATM 2025’s extensive conference programme and exhibition will explore how contemporary shifts in technology and traveller behaviour can both contribute to and benefit from enhanced connectivity. Commenting on the changing face of global travel, Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Connectivity through technology is obviously a key growth area in travel and tourism, but it is also about the seamless flow and interaction of people, goods and ideas, which support businesses worldwide. So, if you are looking to engage with the global trends, cultural shifts and traveller behaviours shaping the future of the tourism sector, there is no better place than ATM.” One of the trends expected to shape the market in 2025 and beyond is so-called nostalgia travel. From remakes of 1990s films to early 2000s music acts on tour, the pull of the past is strong for the Millennial generation. Many of today’s travellers, including those from the UAE, are seeking to reconnect with their youth by recreating special trips or childhood dreams. Some are also looking to connect with their own children by sharing nostalgic experiences in familiar places, providing myriad opportunities for enterprising travel companies. Sports and music tourism is also experiencing significant growth, with the former expected to be worth $1.33 trillion …

QTM 2024 brought together over 300 exhibitors from 60 countries, offering an unparalleled platform for industry professionals to network, collaborate, and explore the latest trends in travel and tourism. Their focus was on fostering partnerships, sharing knowledge, and exploring emerging trends such as sustainable tourism and experiential travel. There were many Eastern European tourism boards, which is the emerging market for Qatar as a destination who attended and exhibited their offerings. The main travel agents in Qatar shared a wide space together providing the visitors an opportunity to connect and network with them. Asian tourism boards such as Korea tourism had brought in many partners with them this year. QTM 2024 aligns with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which prioritizes economic diversification and sustainable development. Tourism is central to this vision, and Qatar is already seeing results, with 2.956 million visitors in the first seven months of 2024, representing a 26.2% growth compared to last year. The event has established itself as a premier platform for innovation and business development within the travel and tourism sector. We are fostering strategic partnerships, offering a robust hosted buyers program, facilitating B2B meetings, and hosting engaging conferences that encourage collaboration and drive industry growth. Speaking about Qatar Travel Mart 2024, Rawad Sleem, Co-founder and General Manager of NeXTfairs, the organizers of QTM, stated: “We are thrilled to open QTM 2024, which represents a milestone in Qatar’s journey to become a global tourism hub. This year’s expanded event, covering 15,000 square meters, reflects the rapid growth of Qatar’s tourism sector and its increasing importance on the world stage. QTM 2024 is not just an exhibition; it’s a catalyst for innovation, partnerships, and sustainable growth in …

Qatar Travel Mart returns for its third edition from 25th to 27th November 2024 with 300 exhibitors from 60 countries a significant increase from the last edition. Rawad Sleem, Co-Founder and General Manager of Nextfairs shares with TTME more details of this year’s focus to position Qatar as a premier travel hub. The central themes for QTM 2024 revolves around sustainable tourism, luxury experiences, and cultural exploration. Our goal is to position Qatar as a premier travel destination while emphasizing the increasing demand for environmentally responsible tourism. The event aligns with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which seeks to harmonize economic growth with environmental sustainability. As luxury travel is expected to reach a market size of $546 billion by 2028, we are committed to blending luxury with authenticity, creating transformative travel experiences. Cultural exploration is also a key focus, particularly as 85% of travelers now prefer destinations that offer immersive and genuine cultural experiences. This year, QTM 2024 anticipated to feature 300 exhibitors from 60 countries, a significant increase from previous editions, reflecting the event’s growing influence. Our hosted buyers program is bringing in 300 high-value buyers to connect with exhibitors, enhancing networking opportunities. We’re expecting a total of 12,000 visitors which is a new attendance record for the event, along with local and international media personnel covering the event. QTM 2024 will span 15,000 square meters, marking a significant milestone by doubling the size of last year’s event. This expansion reflects Qatar’s growing prominence as a global tourism hub and addresses the rising demand for international travel in the region. With 300 hosted buyers expected, exhibitors will benefit from numerous business opportunities and the potential for substantial B2B deals, enhancing international …

An exclusive whitepaper produced for Arabian Travel Market (ATM) by Digital Tourism Think Tank (DTTT) has highlighted that only 15% of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to tourism are on track to be achieved by 2030 according to the body, underscoring the need for more action to be taken across the sector. Based on United Nations (UN) research, in a business-as-usual scenario, by 2050, tourism could generate a 154% increase in energy consumption, a 131% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, a 152% increase in water consumption, and a 251% increase in solid waste, underscoring the importance of increasing investment in sustainable development. Furthermore, Visa and Oxford Economics research has revealed that consumers face insufficient information and a lack of transparency about sustainable travel options. Addressing these challenges, the whitepaper Exploring the Future of Tourism Technology utilised the insights from the ATM Innovation Wall during the 2024 edition of the show. The unique physical platform encouraged industry professionals to share their ideas, concerns and solutions for the future of tourism. Key takeaways proposed ranged from gamified recycling programmes to hyper-personalised travel experiences that emphasise cultural immersion, demonstrating the breadth of creative thinking required. Participants highlighted the urgent need for systemic, collective action to transition tourism toward a circular and regenerative model. Proposed solutions included leveraging innovative technologies for resource optimisation, aligning businesses with local communities to ensure equitable economic benefits, and promoting transformative initiatives like cultural immersion experiences. Nicholas Hall, Founder and CEO, Digital Tourism Think Tank, said: “The discussions around sustainability in tourism with people who visited the ATM Innovation Wall highlighted the multifaceted nature of the challenges we face. The path towards a sustainable future requires a multi-pronged approach, …

The number of pre-qualified buyers attending this year’s World Travel Market London increased by 11 per cent compared to last year, with organisers of the world’s most influential travel and tourism event thrilled to confirm 5,049 world class buyers came through its doors, over three-days. Returning to Excel London from November 5 to 7 2024, the 44th edition hosted 5,049 buyers, a substantial increase of 11 per cent, and almost 500 extra buyers, on the 4,560 buyers welcomed to the 2023 show. Bigger and better than ever, overall attendance at the event increased by six per cent to 46,316 individuals, with many travel professionals attending for between two and three days. To accommodate the additional visitors, the show increased in scale by almost eight per cent, adopting new halls within Excel London’s Level-0, where visitors could enjoy large new conference stages and hospitality areas. Aligned to the event expansion, a record number of exhibitors from the private sector were in attendance, with exhibitor participation growing to 4,047, another rise of eight per cent compared to last year. Continuing to deliver measurable value for attendees, confirmed business meetings also rose by a phenomenal 17 per cent in 2024, with 34,082 pre- scheduled meetings facilitated, in contrast to the 29,075 that took place last year. Hunger for change Leading conversations that will shape the travel and tourism industry throughout 2025, WTM London focussed on ‘Travelpower’ and how attendees, including tourism boards, hoteliers, transport services, technology brands, associations and experiences, can use their platforms for positive change. Reflecting this, the show’s exhilarating conference programme saw more than 200 world-class speakers deliver over 70 insightful sessions built around the topics of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI), Geo-Economics, …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has successfully concluded its participation in the 43rd World Travel Market (WTM) in London. The three-day event, which attracted thousands of professionals from the global travel and tourism industry, helped SCTDA to reinforce Sharjah’s position as a rapidly growing destination for international tourists. WTM 2024 provided SCTDA with a prime platform to highlight its diverse and rich tourism offerings to a diverse audience of industry professionals, particularly those from Europe, which represents a significant and growing tourism market for Sharjah. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighted the strategic importance of the EU market to Sharjah’s tourism ambitions. “With almost 350,000 European tourists visiting Sharjah this year, which accounts for 7% increase from last year this shows that the Europe continues to be a vital market for us. We anticipate even stronger growth by the end of 2024, driven by our active engagement in platforms such as WTM.” At a well-attended press conference held at WTM on November 7, SCTDA unveiled significant advancements in the emirate’s tourism infrastructure alongside new hospitality projects that promise to enhance Sharjah’s appeal as a destination of choice for cultural, leisure, and adventure tourism. Key highlights included the Sharjah Safari, the largest safari park outside Africa, and the Moon Retreat, an innovative desert glamping experience, which offers a new concept and style of accommodation experiences amidst nature. “Sharjah Tourism” will also highlight the natural and topographical diversity that characterizes Sharjah’s tourism product, ranging from cultural, leisure, environmental, and beach experiences to adventures, alongside hotel accommodation experiences. These projects underscore the emirate’s commitment to expanding its offerings and products in the fields of eco and adventure …

WTM London and its Global Travel Partner the Saudi Tourism Authority both hailed the economic and cultural importance of the sector as the event opened its doors on 5 November. Speaking at the WTM Global Welcome, Jonathan Heastie, WTM Portfolio Director, said: “The halls are packed already for what is the biggest WTM London to date. More than 4,000 exhibitors have joined us this year; there are delegates here from 184 countries around the world. “It is a remarkable turnout and I think it’s going to be a remarkable World Travel Market gathering. This time last year, £2.2 billion worth of travel deals were done in these halls, This year, you will hear from more than 200 world-class speakers in 70 enlightening sessions.” Fahd Hamidaddin, Chief Executive and Board member for Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Tourism powers economies more than anything. The jobs we create are the jobs for the young, the entrepreneurs, for the remote, for the pop-and-mom shops and for the new rising talents. When we travel, we go with our best intentions. Our minds are the most open.” Many sessions at today’s show were devoted to the DEAI conference track. Speaking in one of the panels, LoAnn Halden VP of communications for IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) urged travel companies not to merely pay lip service to diversity for Pride or Black History Month but to address longer term social inclusion. She recommended having ‘internal allies’ who understand under-represented groups. Jane Cunningham, director of European engagement for Destinations International noted that good diversity and inclusion was “not only [welcoming] for visitors but very much serving the citizens who live in that destination.” Commenting on stereotyping in advertising, …

The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) will promote Ajman as a premier tourist destination on both regional and global scale during its participation at the World Travel Market (WTM) London, which begins today 5 to 7 November, 2024. During the event, the Department will exhibit its innovative and comprehensive projects and initiatives as part of its goal to highlight its excellent growth within the tourism sector and the efforts being made to elevate and strengthen it. Through its participation, the Department seeks to forge and reinforce partnerships with global travel and tourism firms and leverage them to draw in tourists from Europe and beyond. In addition, ATDD aims to shed light on some of Ajman’s most significant facilities and attractions, such as its natural reserves, pristine beaches and sites of cultural and historical significance, including the Ajman Museum. H.E. Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of Ajman Tourism Development Department, said: “The World Travel Market exhibition serves as a vital forum that convenes travel and tourism industry experts and leaders around the world. It paves the way to reinforce our key partnerships in the sector, exchange expertise and insights, and explore recent developments and innovations that are steering the global tourism industry.” H.E. Alhashmi added, “Our participation in the event comes in line with our effort to highlight the emirate’s tourist attractions and strengthen its position on the global tourism landscape. We aim to showcase our major efforts to advance the sector by implementing projects and initiatives that support the development of tourism infrastructure, further opening avenues for new and sustainable growth. These efforts are in line with the goals of Ajman Vision 2030 to boost the emirate’s status as an …

Speaking with TravTalkME Middle East,  Joyce Wang – Executive Director of Messe Berlin Asia Pacific, Organiser of ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia shared that this year ITB Asia concluded with immense growth from the Middle East and Europe. Wang shared, “So we not only had exhibitors from the Middle East, but we also had buyers from the Middle East coming down to Asia. It’s a big market for us. For the Middle East, we are looking at two important sectors, wellness travel as well as luxury travel. They are coming in quite well and a big trend this year. Lots of regional and local NTOs are actually looking into tapping into these two themes to attract the Middle East buyers.” She further reiterated that this year’s 3 day show concluded on a positive note with 45,000 business appointments, 18,500 visitors from 85 countries featuring 1950 exhibitors and over 1400 buyers across the globe.