Arabian Travel Market closes on a high

Wrapping up four days of travel trade business, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012, which concludes today (3 May), reported a healthy increase in visitor numbers, driven by the show’s renewed B2B focus and buoyed by positive indicators from the region’s tourism sector.

“The 2011 event attracted over 16,000 trade visitors and indicators for this year show an increase of between 7-10%,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

The region’s leading trade exhibition for travel industry professionals, the 19th edition of the show has also seen a significant rise in decision makers and influencers – up by 35% - from members of its buyers club, hosted delegates, regional and international speakers and hosted luxury travel buyers.

“The initial figures from this year’s show are an endorsement of not only Arabian Travel Market’s continued relevance and structured focus to the regional travel market, but mirror the rebound in both confidence and business levels across the major industry sectors,” remarked Walsh.

Independently ABC-audited, ATM 2012 also recorded a 7% increase in exhibitors for this year’s event ahead of the start of the show, with more than 21,000 square metres of floor space hosting over 2,400 exhibitors and 82 new companies. This increase was also reflected in its international reach with 54 national pavilions and 87 countries represented overall.