ATM Concludes on an Optimistic Note

Arabian Travel Market 2009 the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event has ended with senior industry figures predicting the region would defy current global economic conditions to buck world-wide trends and international downturns in travel to record solid growth.
Arabian Travel Market 2009 boasted more than 2,100 exhibitors and stand-sharers, from 69 countries, including 70 new-to-market representatives, as well nearly 60 national tourist bodies representing six continents, including debutants from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Nigeria, as well as first-time representation from the Ecuadorian, Slovenian and San Marino private sectors.
The four-day event also had increased space uptake from a number of destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Thailand, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius and Kenya.
In addition, a host of first-time exhibiting countries, such as Romania and Cambodia, as well as regional and international carriers including Swiss Airlines, Jazeera Airways and Wataniya Airways, who all made their debuts, also made significant space commitments for 2009.
The show also saw delegations, led by senior government Ministers, from a host of international and Middle East nations and states, including Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Cyprus, Bahrain, Kenya, Kuwait, Spain, Indonesia, Jordan, South Africa, Argentina, Romania, India, Morocco, Greece, Thailand, the Philippines and Nepal.
Reed Travel Exhibitions, organisers of Arabian Travel Market 2009, which ran at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre said it was pleased with the way the event had gone and was already working on bolstering 2010's offering.
"This year is very much a watershed moment for the industry as a whole and to see such strong exhibitor and visitor numbers here in the Middle East is testament to the region's reputation as one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic markets. We're very pleased with the reaction to the 2009 event we see it as a very strong platform towards 2010 where we hope to see a complete industry recovery," said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
"We have already begun receiving bookings for next year, which is extremely encouraging, and we have a number of new initiatives debuting in 2010 which will further increase the show's standing as the premier setting for the travel sector to conduct Middle East business."