Sajjad Ahmad, Deputy Business Editor

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Chairman of Dubai World, on Monday officially inaugurated Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022, marking the start of the 29th edition of the Middle East’s largest travel and tourism exhibition.

Sheikh Ahmed said Dubai continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of global travel and tourism recovery by hosting global events that bring together decision-makers in the sector from across the region and the globe, contributing to worldwide efforts to open new growth horizons for the industry. Dubai’s ability to provide a safe environment for both tourism and prominent global events over the past two years and its success in overcoming the repercussions of the recent worldwide health crisis have enabled it to welcome large numbers of visitors from all over the world.

“Dubai provides a unique model for sustainable development that not only promotes economic progress within the nation but also stimulates growth in the region. The Arabian Travel Market provides a vital platform for tourism and travel industry leaders in the Middle East and across the world to connect and network with each other and discover new opportunities for growth, collaboration and success,” he said.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed was accompanied at the inauguration by Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Vasyl Zhygalo, Portfolio Director, RX Global; Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director Middle East, ATM; and a host of other VIPs who embarked on a tour of the show floor as the four-day event got underway in Dubai.

Taking place from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 May, this year’s event is more than 85% larger than ATM 2021 in terms of floorspace, with growth in every single region. ATM 2022 features 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 158 global destinations, and an anticipated 20,000 attendees. The live show will be followed by ATM Virtual, which will run from Tuesday 17 to Wednesday 18 May.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in collaboration with DET, ATM 2022’s theme – ‘The future of international travel and tourism’ – will be reflected throughout the show. The ATM Global Stage and ATM Travel Tech Stage will host 40 conference sessions comprising 150 speakers.

New this year is the ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition, which has generated a huge buzz since its launch. The initiative will see up to 15 travel, tourism, and hospitality innovators pitch for up to $500,000 of funding – not to mention the opportunity to compete for an additional $500,000 of investment as part of the hit TV show, Meet the Drapers.

In addition, ATM 2022 will include in-depth buyer forums dedicated to India and Saudi Arabia; live interviews with aviation and hospitality experts; debates on the future of sports, city and responsible tourism; the ITIC-ATM Middle East Summit on tourism investment; digital influencer networking; best stand awards; and the return of ILTM Arabia, with its focus on the lucrative luxury travel market.

For the first time, the ARIVALDubai@ATM forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will take place live in Dubai after joining remotely for ATM 2021.

ATM 2022 is part of Arabian Travel Week, a 10-day festival of travel and tourism events taking place in Dubai.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, visited Ajman Department of Tourism Development pavilion, during the inauguration of the 29th Arabian Travel Market exhibition, held in Dubai from 9 to 12 May 2022. His Highness was briefed on the most prominent tourism services and projects provided by the department and the participating entities under the umbrella of Ajman Government.

Ajman revealed the launch of a number of innovative initiatives and projects during the Arabian Travel Market exhibition held in the Emirate of  Dubai, where Ajman Tourism and the participating entities under its umbrella, seek to enhance the tourism sector as a part of the department’s efforts to showcase Ajman’s natural touristic destinations, and rich heritage, aiming to increase its visibility and attractiveness for visitors from all over the world, and achieve the emirate’s tourism vision.

Led by Qatar Tourism (QT), Qatar is participating in the 29th edition of the Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) with a double-decked pavilion covering 780 sqm and hosting a significant delegation of more than 35 tourism partners from the country to represent the destination. ATM is taking place at the World Trade Centre in Dubai and runs from 9-12 May.

With an upcoming focus on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, the state owns an ambitious tourism strategy to triple the number of visitors to 6 million by 2030, making Qatar the fastest growing destination in the Middle East for international visitors.

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