The Supreme Commission of Tourism of Saudi Arabia is to host a seminar on `Umrah Plus – An Overview of the Considerations`…
The Supreme Commission of Tourism of Saudi Arabia is to host a seminar on `Umrah Plus – An Overview of the Considerations` – at Arabian Travel Market, the Middle East`s premier travel and tourism show which will be held in Dubai in May.
Scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, at the Airport Expo Dubai, the seminar is aimed at presenting an informative and explantory overview of the recently-introduced Umrah Plus concept.
The presentation will outline key market considerations for stakeholders and travel industry players for whom this concept will be new, said Matt Thompson, Group Exhibition Director, Overseas Events, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises Arabian Travel Market. The seminar will deal with the basics for developing Umrah travel extensions to Mecca for inbound Muslim visitors travelling to and within Saudi Arabia.
The `Umrah Plus` session is part of an educational seminar series running alongside Arabian Travel Market, which will run from May 6-9.
The seminar last year which dealt with Umrah travel was exceptionally popular and the session this year will further update travel professionals, said Thompson.
Saudi Arabia is to have its first national pavilion at Arabian Travel Market, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. The pavilion is being organised by The Supreme Commission of Tourism.
With just over two months to go before the 2003 Arabian Travel Market the show is already already 5% square metres larger than last year`s record-breaking event.
Much of this space growth is taken by tourism boards which are increasing the size of their stands to meet demand from the private sector, explained Thompson. Moreover, we are welcoming a number of fresh exhibitors to the show with new national pavilions from Saudi Arabia and Canada and the return of a Ugandan national pavilion after a break of seven years.
Visitor expectations also remain unhindered by regional uncertainties, according to Thompson.
We recently started our visitor promotional campaign and the early indication is that our pre-registration figures are on track to match those of last year, he said.
To date, exhibitors from 47 countries have registered for Arabian Travel Market 2003, including destinations, tour operators, hotel groups, national tourist boards, travel technology providers, airlines, industry associations, yachting and cruise operators and tourism consultants.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
