More than 46,000 industry experts from 160 countries, including 33,500 guests, attended the 31st Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which finished today (9 May) in Dubai, UAE.
This is a 15% year-on-year increase in attendees over ATM’s momentous 30th edition, creating a new show record and reflecting the strength, resilience, and momentum of the global travel and tourism industry.
Over 2,600 exhibitors gathered at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to study the sources of industry growth and discover future prospects in the global tourism sector, in line with the ATM 2024 theme of ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, stated, “My colleagues and I are delighted that so many industry professionals from around the world were able to join us in Dubai to explore how innovation and entrepreneurship are shaping a more efficient, profitable and sustainable tourism sector for future generations. We are thrilled to have set a new show record, underscoring our position as the travel and tourism exhibition of choice as we continue to drive global growth within the industry.”
ATM 2024 welcomed His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, who presided over a meeting of the Executive Council during the event. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan approved a number of key transportation and tourism projects that align with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
This year’s opening session featured policymakers from throughout the region discussing how Gulf nations are collaborating to streamline the GCC’s tourism offerings. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; H.E. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority; H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of Tourism at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in Oman; and H.E. Sarah Buhijji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, provided insights during the panel discussion, which commenced after opening remarks by UAE Minister of Economy H.E. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri.
During the session ‘Unlocking the True Potential of Indian Travellers’, experts from the Indian outbound industry provided vital insights. Virendra Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of VIDEC, a boutique advisory and analytics firm specializing in travel, tourism, and hospitality, provided information on market opportunity assessments, channel and distribution analysis, Indian traveler characteristics and behaviours, and projected outbound travel trends for the next decade.
During the session ‘Looking Skyward for Innovation: How Technology is Disrupting Aviation’, panelists discussed forecasts for the future of air travel as well as the necessity of innovation in enabling the sector to accommodate major growth in air traffic. The event was moderated by travel expert Mark Frary and included presentations from Cirium, IATA, AviationXLab, and Riyadh Air.
InterLnkd beat off fierce opposition to win the third ATM Start-up Pitch Battle, which was organized in collaboration with Intelak. The company, situated in the United Kingdom, connects the travel and hospitality sectors with the fashion, beauty, and retail industries using particular data points and a sophisticated matching engine.
Experience Abu Dhabi won the Best Stand Design Award (more than 150m2) at ATM 2024. An impartial panel of judges complimented the tourism authority’s exhibition area for its fluid design, creative use of greenery, and high visibility from the show floor. Other Best Stand Winners included AlUla, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, ExploreTECH, flydubai, Qiddiya Investment Company, and the Saudi Tourism Authority.
ATM 2024 was held in partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre, and its key partners included the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as Destination Partner, Emirates as Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as Official Hotel Partner, and Al Rais Travel as Official DMC Partner.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 will take place from April 28 to May 1.