A total of 12,111 visitors from 73 countries attended Arabian Travel Market 2003 – the 10th anniversary edition of…
A total of 12,111 visitors from 73 countries attended Arabian Travel Market 2003 – the 10th anniversary edition of the Middle East`s premier travel and tourism show, which was held earlier this month at Airport Expo Dubai.
Travel trade turnout rose 20 per cent on last year with the show attracting more trade buyers than ever before. Overall attendance was up by 6 per cent taking into account numbers received during the two consumer sessions scheduled at the end of the show, according to reports in the UAE`s dailies.
In all aspects the show rose to the challenges the industry has faced recently and sent a clear signal internationally that this is a resilient industry and one committed to fast-tracking an upturn where possible, said Matt Thompson, Exhibition Director, Overseas Events, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises the yearly event. The only visitor sector to drop was consumers – some 4,441 members of the public attended the show on the two public sessions, compared to 5,175 in 2002.
Initial unaudited results show that of the total visitors 6,883 were trade buyers and travel professionals, 695 were members of the press and 92 were VIP guests. And as the curtain came down on ATM 2003, space reservations were already being made for the 2004 event. Pavilion expansion commitments were received from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. We returned to ATM with a pavilion after a break of five years and we got a tremendous response, said Sisira Abeyratne, Management Assistant, Sri Lanka Tourism Board.
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