Category Archives: Exhibitions

The inaugural Saudi Travel Mart successfully concluded with TravTalk ME as media partner with 14k plus visitors. The fruitful three days witnessed the travel trade flocking from around the globe to connect with 135 exhibitors from 20 countries. Speaking with TTME, Mohamed Al Harbi CEO of Saudi Travel Mart shared, “my intention is to position Saudi Arabia as one of the most visited countries in the world and promote inbound travel to the Kingdom. We lacked a B2B platform for our travel trade partners to connect with the new companies that have risen in the kingdom over the past few years. Hence we planned this three day exhibition with some of the big names in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors so that they will have an opportunity to connect, network and talk business with new partners. We are thankful to all our partners who joined us and had faith in us as we started a journey together to position Saudi Arabia as one of the most sought after destinations and for the next edition, we hope to bring in more players together.”

Emirates will return to ITB Berlin from 5 until 7 March in a major way, showcasing its latest signature products and reaffirming the airline’s longstanding commitment to Europe’s leading travel and trade show. Emirates is gearing up for three action-packed days at ITB Berlin with plans to launch new partnerships and expand existing collaborations with local and regional travel partners – including air carriers to enhance connectivity for travellers headed to/from major European travel hubs; and strategic partnerships with travel and tourism entities to promote travel to and from Europe via joint marketing and other trade initiatives. Visitors to the Emirates stand will have the opportunity to experience Emirates’ latest roster of innovative products and fan-favourites including the highly popular Emirates Premium Economy seat which will be showcased in Germany for the first time. Unveiled at the 2022 Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Emirates’ Premium Economy product has so far won multiple awards and is available on 27 A380 aircraft flying to 15 destinations including New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, London Heathrow, Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch, Melbourne, Singapore, Tokyo, Mumbai, Bangalore, Sao Paulo and Dubai. Also debuting for the first time at ITB Berlin is Emirates’ iconic Boeing 777-300ER game-changer First Class fully enclosed private suite. With the full range of onboard products on display, visitors can experience Emirates’ Boeing 777 Business Class seat, the newest generation of the A380 Onboard Lounge and First Class Shower Spa, as well as its generously pitched Economy Class seats. Emirates will also dedicate an area to showcase its latest sustainability initiatives, including onboard items that incorporate responsibly-sourced materials, and items from ‘Air-crafted by Emirates’ – a unique collection of luggage, bags and …

The inaugural B2B edition of Saudi Travel Mart with TravTalkME as media partner kicked off in Riyadh yesterday with over 135 companies from 20 countries. It will provide a platform for key exhibitors from Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world to showcase their many offerings within a period of three days from 25th to 27th February 2024. Opening the event Naif A. Alrajhi – Vice Chairman of Board of Directors Riyadh Chamber of Commerce shared, “Today is an important event to have this first ever B2B event in Saudi Arabia, having 135 companies from 20 countries which shows the importance of being in Saudi  Arabia and this is very good for later stages as Saudi Arabia aims to achieve a high number of tourists from across the globe. Saudi Arabia has a lot of opportunities with thew commitment of the government as they have set a target with the vision 2030 aimed at attracting the highest number of  tourists by 2030 and with all the foreign investments happening in the Kingdom this will give rise to the tourism sector in the Kingdom.” Mohammed Al Harbi, Chief Executive Officer Saudi Travel Mart in his opening remarks shared, “we consider the Saudi Travel Market to be one of the important exhibitions through which we intend to place the Kingdom on the list of major tourist destinations in the coming years. As the first B2B exhibition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we aim to attract the largest international companies to the Kingdom and make it the first and best choice for everyone.”  

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili joined Iran’s President, His Excellency Ebrahim Raisi, in opening the 17th edition of the Exhibition. At the leading event, UN Tourism reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Iran grow its tourism sector through promotion and investments, while also supporting the country in educating a new generation of tourism workers. Mr Pololikashvili also met with the Mayor of Tehran, Ali Reza Zakani, with bilateral talks focusing on working together to make the city a more attractive destination both for tourists and for investors. The Secretary-General of UN Tourism has concluded an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Zurab Pololikashvili led a high-level delegation to the country to join the official inauguration of the Tehran International Tourism Exhibition and for a series of bilateral meetings to advance common goals around tourism resilience, diversity and rural development. The Secretary-General explored the Tehran International Tourism Exhibition alongside Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Ezzatollah Zarghami and Deputy Minister Dr. Ali Asghar Shalbafian. The UN Tourism leadership commended their hard work building the sector, with particular recognition of how tourism is celebrating Iran’s diverse ethnic groups and traditions while also providing a common vision for the future of the country. Representing UN Tourism’s growing Affiliate Members network, the CEO of Abbas Abad Cultural and Tourism Area, Seyed Hossein Hejazi, also met with Secretary-General Pololikashvili to make clear the role the private sector is playing in advancing shared goals. In line with the Organization’s emphasis on rural development, Governor Malek Rahmati was presented with a plaque to commemorate Kandovan being included in the list of Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism. The significant potential for growing tourism as a pillar …

Qatar Tourism led a delegation of 13 hospitality partners to the Mumbai 2024 Outbound Travel Show, one of Asia’s leading travel exhibitions. The exhibition is a platform for Qatar Tourism to present its latest offerings in the Indian markets and meet more than 35,000 travel and tourism professionals. The three-day exhibition schedule, from February 8 to 10, will be held at the Geo World Convention Centre in Mumbai. For the third consecutive year, Qatar Tourism won the ‘Best Design and Decoration’ award for its pavilion at the awards ceremony at the exhibition, where Qatar Tourism recorded its largest participation in the exhibition, opening a two-storey pavilion spread over a large area of 200 square meters. The pavilion showcased unique activities, through which visitors were able to experience visual simulations of Qatar’s wildlife, interact closely with it on the LED screen, and take souvenir photos. The exhibition was a great opportunity for Qatar Tourism to participate in the leading markets identified by the 2030 Strategy. In 2023, Qatar welcomed around 420,000 visitors from India, accounting for 10% of the total international visitors for that year, making it the second most visited after Saudi Arabia. The Qatar Tourism Pavilion featured a number of travel and tourism partners, including Qatar Airways, Discover Qatar, Qatar Calendar and Hilton Beach Resort.Salwa, Rixos Hotel at Qetaifan Island North, Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort, Resort Marsa Malaz Kempinski, Rixos Gulf Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, Q Moments such as Destination Management Companies (DMC), company Conciliation Travel & Tourism, Regency Travel & Tourism, Ali Bin Ali Travel & Tourism.

The 44th edition of the International Tourism Fair concludes its three days exclusively dedicated to professionals, surpassing its forecast of 150,000 attendees with a total of 153,000 visitors. This is reflected in the initial attendance data at the IFEMA MADRID Exhibition Center, indicating the complete recovery of the tourism sector. These figures represent a 12% increase compared to 2022. It is estimated that this influx of visitors to FITUR will generate approximately 430 million euros in revenue for the Madrid economy. FITUR receives institutional support with official visits from all five continents. As in every edition, in addition to the support of the tourism sector, FITUR has received strong institutional backing. After the official inauguration presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain on the first day, the Fair has had significant presences such as Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, which is this year’s Partner Country of the International Tourism Fair. Additionally, it has received the official visit of the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, representatives from the World Tourism Organization, the Ibero-American General Secretary, and more than ten regional presidents of Spain. In total, the 44th edition of FITUR has recorded the attendance of nearly 400 authorities, including State Secretaries, Tourism Ministers, ambassadors, business envoys, mayors from different regions, and other political and institutional representatives. Media coverage and social media impact of FITUR 2024 The fair’s growth and impact have been reflected in the extensive media coverage, with nearly 23,000 articles published in national and international media. In total, FITUR has accredited about 6,800 journalists (10% international from 53 countries). Moreover, in the social media sphere, during the first two …

Arabian Travel Award winner Rezlive has signed up as gold sponsor with Rent Conferences and Exhibitions Company for the first edition of the Saudi Travel Market (STM) to be held in Riyadh from February 25-27, 2024. Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director, Travel Designer Group shared, “We will be participating in the inaugural Saudi Travel Market 2024 as both an exhibitor and sponsor. Saudi Arabia holds significant importance in the travel industry, and your presence at this event reflects your commitment to exploring and contributing to this thriving market. Being a part of the first edition of this prestigious event offers a unique opportunity to engage with travel partners, fostering valuable connections and collaborations. This premier event promises to be a dynamic convergence of key players, innovators, and stakeholders within the travel sector and we are very happy to be a part of this event.” Rent Conferences and Exhibitions Company General Manager Mohammed Al-Harbi said: “We are pleased to sign a new agreement today with Rezlive to sponsor the Saudi Travel Market. The partnership with one of the world’s leading companies in the travel and tourism sector is very important in attracting international companies to the Kingdom. We consider the Saudi Travel Market to be one of the important exhibitions through which we intend to place the Kingdom on the list of major tourist destinations in the coming years. Through this exhibition, we aim to attract the largest international companies to the Kingdom and make it the first and best choice for everyone.” For his part, Rezlive’s Business Development Manager in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Marzooq Suleiman, said: “We are pleased to sponsor one of the most promising tourism exhibitions in Saudi …

Jeddah International Travel Exhibition (JTTX) will take place from 28 – 30 January 2024 connecting international travel businesses to the Saudi travel trade. The three day travel trade exhibition will open from 4pm to 11pm from 28 – 30 January 2024. Last year’s edition saw over 29,000 participants with 172 exhibitors and 27 countries, hence this year the show is expected to attract more visitors both B2B and B2C.  Saudi travel market is considered as one of the fastest growing markets in the World. JTTX is an ideal place to identify and build business relationships, connect and understand customer preferences and trends, as well as to promote Tourism destinations, with relevant products and services. The exhibition is the perfect networking  and meeting point for all in the travel. tourism and hospitality trade.

Once again, ‘blue tourism’ will be taking centre stage at the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR, organised by IFEMA MADRID from 24 to 28 January 2024. The FITUR Cruises section will convert Hall 4 into the epicentre of the cruise industry, with destinations and major companies showcasing a wide range of experiences through a full programme of activities, conferences and stands. Over the five days of the 44th edition of FITUR, this section will become the maritime enclave of reference where industry professionals and the general public can enjoy networking sessions, practical talks, dynamic events for all ages and meet-ups with the aim of promoting a deeper understanding of this holiday offer for travel agents and passengers alike. Noteworthy participants of FITUR Cruises With an impressive stand space, the iconic Disney Cruise Line will be bringing the magical experience of its cruises and dream-like destinations. Celebrity Cruises and Azamara will also be present at FITUR on their own stands, as will the renowned cruise line Costa Cruceros, with a double stand in front of the FITUR Cruises auditorium that will recreate the deck of a ship and showcase the new features of its itineraries for 2024 and 2025. As a new addition, the Turkish company specialising in cruises around the Greek islands and Eastern Mediterranean, Miray Cruises, will be participating for the first time at FITUR and will be presenting its programme for 2024. Among the tourist destinations, it is worth highlighting the presence of Ceuta, which will be revealing the wonders that cruise passengers can enjoy when disembarking at its Mediterranean port and which is presented as one of the undiscovered jewels of this coast. The non-profit organisation Mercy …

In a landmark announcement made at the 173rd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh has been named as the host city for the highly anticipated Expo 2030. Themed ‘The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,’ Expo 2030 will align perfectly with the fulfillment of Saudi’s Vision 2030 – a historic blueprint to fundamentally transform the Kingdom, diversify the economy, and improve the lives of the country’s citizens. Saudi is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations, and in the first quarter of 2023, it had the second-highest number of international arrivals in the world – a growth of 64% compared to the same period in 2019. Expo 2030 is expected to turbocharge the sector’s steep upward trajectory, giving the kingdom a platform to share its unique and diverse wonders with the world while driving forward job creation, sector investment, and trade partnerships. The announcement is also set to significantly boost the Saudi economy and drive the Vision 2030 ambition of making tourism the second largest component of the country’s GDP. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board of Saudi Tourism stated: “Today marks an extraordinary chapter for Saudi, with our capital city, Riyadh, honored by the world as the chosen host of Expo 2030. I believe that Expo 2030 will serve as a catalyst for growth and its impact on Saudi’s tourism sector will be felt immediately. As we prepare for this iconic global showpiece, we would like to call on our trade partners to take advantage of the historic opportunities on offer, to help us drive forward sustainable growth and development within the Kingdom’s tourism sector today.” Spotlighting Saudi’s robust …