More than 20,000 attendees expected at this year’s Arabian Travel Market

The show floor at ATM 2022 will be over 85% larger than at last year’s edition

The organisers of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) say this year’s event from 9 to 12 May will host 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 112 global destinations and an anticipated 20,000 attendees.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in collaboration with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the 29th edition of ATM will be part of the UAE’s annual Arabian Travel Week.

In keeping with this year’s theme of ‘The future of international travel and tourism’, ATM 2022 will feature a selection of sessions and events, enabling industry professionals from around the world to discuss current trends and explore long-term opportunities within the fields of travel, transportation, tourism, hospitality, events, attractions and more.

Kerry Prince, chief growth officer at organiser RX, said: “Business travel expenditure in the Middle East is forecast to rise by 32% this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, and these figures underscore the positive sentiment that we’ve experienced throughout the region.

“This naturally bodes well for yet another successful edition of ATM, providing a catalyst to put our industry firmly on the path to a robust and sustainable recovery, alongside our partners the DET and of course the DWTC.”

The show floor at this year’s edition will be over 85% larger than at ATM 2021, with the expansion of several sector- and region-specific zones, including Travel Tech (+380%); hotels (+71%); the Middle East (+57%); Africa (+56%); Asia (+50%); and Europe (+49%).

Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing chief executive Issam Kazim said: “Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism is pleased to be part of this significant fixture in the global tourism calendar, and is looking forward to discussing and exploring opportunities for sustainable growth, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai to make Dubai the most visited destination and the best city in the world to live and work in.

“Since reopening to the global market in July 2020, Dubai has never looked back. We have been able to build on this momentum year on year, leading to a hugely successful Expo 2020 Dubai.  And ATM comes at a time when the rest of the world wants to be a part of this remarkable journey with Dubai.”

He added: “As the host city, we welcome our industry partners and travel and tourism professionals to this vibrant networking environment to share experiences, insights and best practices to reinvigorate tourism growth in a post-pandemic world.

“With Dubai continuing to lead the recovery of the international business events sector, it is also important that we recognise the steadfast support of all our stakeholders and partners, which has helped further enhance the trust that international travellers have placed in the city as a global destination that is open, safe and accessible.”

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Arabian Travel Market exhibition director ME Danielle Curtis said: “ATM 2022 will see a diverse range of industry leaders take to the stage, offering expert insights on trends, challenges and opportunities from across our sector

“Our opening session, for instance, which will be moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, will feature Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing; Scott Livermore, Chief Economist at Oxford Economics; and Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, President – Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Hilton.

“We are also looking forward to welcoming speakers from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Qatar Tourism, not to mention a broad selection of regional and international brands. This year’s edition will feature representatives from Etihad, SAUDIA, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Boeing, Emaar Hospitality Group, Radisson Hotel Group and many more.”

ATM 2022’s strategic partners include Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as Destination Partner, Emirates as Official Airline Partner and Emaar Hospitality Group as Official Hotel Partner.

Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said: “As long-standing partners of this event, we’re excited to be back at ATM, in its biggest edition after the pandemic, and we’re proud that it’s coming back even better this year as the industry gathers again, reinforcing all of the signs of a positive outlook.

“We’re ready to engage with the travel industry with our latest and best products as we move forward with recovery, and all collectively prepare to meet the pent-up demand for travel. At Emirates, our focus remains on recovery – through rebuilding our network and capacity to pre-pandemic levels; helping the industry recover through close cooperation and meaningful partnerships and investing for the future to position ourselves on an even stronger footing.”  

Emaar Hospitality Group Head of Hospitality Mark Kirby added: “Dubai has maintained its iconic touristic appeal through a strategic and forward-thinking approach and thanks to collaborative platforms like the Arabian Travel Market, we can honour our region’s true potential.

“We are delighted to be the official hotel partner once again, as it brings immense value in terms of building long-term relationships as we work alongside key stakeholders to reshape the industry landscape. This year has seen a remarkable recovery in our industry, and we look forward to accelerating our success by catering to new hospitality trends and demands in this new era of hospitality and travel.”

This year’s live show will be followed by ATM Virtual, which will run from 17 to 18 May.

For more information, visit www.wtm.com/atm