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Zambian
community Mpumpule first initiative for the Arabian Travel Market supported Just
a Drop water aid programme to go live; ATM platform to raise awareness of
global water access challenge
The
23rd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will once again provide a platform
to raise awareness and funds for the Just a Drop international water aid
programme with a focus on one of the charity’s Africa projects, the Mpumpule
Community Borehole initiative in Zambia.
Jointly
sponsored by ATM and WTM London, this is the first real-time project that
Arabian Travel Market has worked on with Just a Drop, raising combined exhibitor
donations of $30,632 from ATM 2015 and WTM London 2015
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Reed Travel
Exhibitions, organiser of both annual travel trade events, has supported Just a
Drop since 1998 and will once again ask exhibiting companies to donate a
contracted nominal donation when signing up to participate at the 2016
industry showcase.
The
project aims to provide the 160-person community with permanent access to clean
and safe water from a dedicated borehole fitted with a hand pump. In addition,
it will help reduce water borne and sanitation related diseases, and give local
women and girls the opportunity to focus on their education, effectively
cutting down on the time required to collect water from other sources.
“An
estimated 4,000 children die
every day from water borne diseases, and Just a Drop is committed to effecting
meaningful lifelong change in the communities in which it is present. The
tourism industry is also at the heart of communities around the world, and in
supporting this initiative we are able to disseminate the message to an
influential global audience, and hopefully accelerate this change for the
future benefit of those in need,” said Simon
Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) and World Travel
Market London (WTM London).
Established
in 1998, Just a Drop was launched under the premise that a donation of just £1 can help provide access to clean water for a child for
up to 10 years, and with an estimated 4,000 children dying every day from water
borne diseases, this can be eradicated.
The charity’s projects support communities through the
construction of wells, boreholes, pipelines, hand pumps and latrines, and
establish health and sanitation programmes for some of the poorest communities
in the world. Its ultimate goal is to reduce child mortality by delivering
clean, safe water where it is needed most.
“As
well as providing a basic human right, this is a fantastic way to empower
people in the community, with a local water and sanitation committee
established and trained to maintain and repair the water system, thereby
bringing new skills to Mpumpule’s inhabitants and developing local capability,”
said Brendan Hanlon, Head of Fundraising and
Communications, Just a Drop.
ATM
2016 will once again feature a packed agenda of activities with this year’s
spotlight theme mid-market travel, along with other highlights including spa
and wellness, technology, halal tourism, business travel, technology,
responsible tourism, shopping, aviation, culture and heritage, and adventure
travel.
ATM 2016 will build on the success of this year’s edition with the
announcement of an additional hall as Reed Travel Exhibitions looks to add to
its record-breaking achievements earlier this year. ATM 2015 witnessed a
year-on-year visitor attendance increase of 15% to over 26,000, with exhibiting
companies increasing by 5% to 2,873. Business deals worth more than US$2.5
billion were signed over the four days.
For
more information on Arabian Travel Market 2016, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarket.com
