Business
travel in the Middle East and North Africa is showing signs of
improvement after hitting rock bottom during the social-political
uprisings of last year, according to Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), the
award-winning international corporate services company.
The
upheaval and unrest had an immense impact on the travel industry in
the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for both the region’s
incoming and outgoing travellers,
but
HRG believes there is cause for optimism as many countries experience
various stages of recovery and travel picks up.
Oil
continues to be the biggest draw for foreign business travel to the
region, yet many countries are diversifying and other sectors are
helping to drive business travel. Pharmaceutical, telecommunication
and construction companies make up a large part of corporate travel
volumes in many MENA markets. Furthermore, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Turkey
in particular, are increasingly establishing themselves as the
preferred destinations for international conferences, driven by key
infrastructure enhancements – including new venues, hotels and
convention centres.
Keith
Burgess, Company Secretary and Central Services Director comments:
“The social-political uprisings of last year were without doubt a
major blow to regional economies, local markets, and subsequently,
the travel business. Airlines around the region were forced to reduce
services to some areas, whilst hotel occupancy levels plummeted to
single digits in certain markets. At the same time, major bustling
construction sites for new hotels and upcoming commercial districts
went noticeably quiet.
“The
instability of the past three years is still being felt by a number
of counties in the region, but newcomers entering the Middle East and
North African markets are also seeing how change can act as a
catalyst for increased business opportunity. In several markets
restrictive legislation has been replaced by more liberal and
business-friendly policies, leading to a marked increase in foreign
investment and inward corporate travel.”
Countries
like Tunisia, Algeria and Libya are emerging as fresh commercial
destinations where Foreign Direct Investment is having a healthy
impact on the business travel environment. Security does however
remain a significant issue, as the events in Algeria earlier this
year demonstrated. HRG’s extensive services in the region continue
to offer reassurance and support, particularly with HRG
TravelWatchTM, HRG's proprietary web-based, traveller tracking
system.
