The Middle East region’s first trade show dedicated to developments and investments in the booming tourism sector got underway in Dubai after a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) on Sunday (January 20).

Among those present at the inauguration ceremony included Mr. Hilal Saeed Al Merri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Mr. Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, DTCM Executive Director Operations and Marketing, and Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Media Relations and Acting Director Business Development.

The three-day exhibition is taking place on a 19,000 square metres space at the Dubai International Exhibition & Convention Centre and has attracted more than 50 leading tourism projects developers as exhibitors.

Mr. bin Sulayem said: “TDIM provides an opportunity to address the challenges of boosting investment flows and know-how into the region's tourism sector. We believe that TDIM offes an ideal platform to network and interact with major players in the tourism sector as well as other sectors that complement tourism growth.”

He said the total investments in tourism projects in the UAE stands at AED858 billion, of which AED454 billion are in Dubai.

Stating that Dubai’s tourism industry is booming with stellar performance each passing year, Mr. bin Sulayem disclosed that the Dubai hotels revenues touched AED12.5 billion in the year 2007.

TDIM-08 organisers said the debut show was showcasing an estimated AED 700 billion worth of tourism projects by more than 50 leading tourism projects developers. Over 5,000 local and international corporate and individual investors, tourism officials, tourism facilities operators, global destination brands and specialists are expected to visit the show.

The exhibition has been organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East with the support of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and DTCM. TDIM sponsors include Nakheel, Dubai World Central (DWC), Falcon City of Wonders, Dubailand Destination and Emirates Airlines.

The list of participants at the exhibition is led by DTCM, Nakheel, DWC (Dubai World Central), Dubailand Destination, Global Village, BAWADI, Plantation, Universal Studios DUBAILAND, Falcon City of Wonders, Aldar, Sorouh, Al Qudra, Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, Tamouh, Egyptian Tourism Authority, the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, B&G Hotels & Resorts from Egypt, Travellers, Group RCI, Marina D’or from Spain and Jack Rouse & Associate from the US, among other participants.

In an effort to provide global investors with opportunities to evaluate potential investment prospects in the region’s tourism projects sector, an innovative initiative branded HICE (Hosted Investors & Corporate End-Users) is being conduced as part of TDIM.

The TDIM exhibition is being held in Hall 1 and Zabeel Hall at the Dubai International Exhibition & Convention Centre.