New
Inspiration Zone to provide key regional speakers with platform to address evolving
travel trends in the Middle East & North Africa as well as an update about
Expo 2020’s sustainability
plans
With
Expo 2020 on the horizon and the Middle East representing high growth potential
for the travel industry, WTM London 2018 which takes place on 5-7 November and
is placing a spotlight on the region with a host of key speakers lined up for
the show’s new regionally-focused Inspiration Zones.
As Dubai gears up for Expo 2020, one of the
first sessions in Middle East & North Africa Zone, ‘Expo 2020 Taking
Responsibility for Environmental Impacts – Water and Energy’ will take place
Monday 5th November, with Gillian Hamburger, Senior Vice President
of Commercial, Expo 2020 Dubai, leading the discussion.
Aspiring to create the most sustainable Expo in
history, this session will explore the efforts being taken by Dubai to leave a
legacy of cutting-edge sustainability practices that will inspire generations
to come.
Simon Press, Senior Director, WTM London, said:
“Over the last decade the tourism industry in the Middle East has grown ten-fold.
The developments have been incredible with the tallest buildings and tallest
hotels; revolutionary transport infrastructure; theme parks and leisure
attractions that are the envy of the rest of the world.
“With visitor arrivals predicted to reach 25 million
annually by 2025 and the opening ceremony of Dubai Expo 2020 now just two years
away, the Middle East is set to continue to be one of the most dynamic travel
destinations in the world.”
Indeed, according to figures from the UN’s
World Tourism Organisation, the number of international tourists to the Middle
East is also rising steadily, receiving 58.1 million tourists in 2017, an
increase of 5% over the previous 12 months.
Other sessions at WTM London include exploring the
trillion-dollar Muslim lifestyle and food industry, panel discussion - ‘How are
mainstream travel companies and destinations attempting to take advantage of
the rise of Halal Travel?’ will take place on Tuesday 6th November
in the Middle East & North Africa zone.
During the session panellists will discuss the
development of an industry that is growing at such a rate that it should no
longer be deemed a niche, while exploring the ways in which travel companies
and destinations are adapting how they do business to cater to Muslim travellers.
Meanwhile, as the Middle East and Africa’s
travel and tourism industry continues to evolve, Lea Meyer, an analyst for Euromonitor
International’s Middle East & Africa team will provide an insight into the
current state of the industry in the region, while highlighting how regional
and global trends are expected to shape travel demand and supply as we look to
the future.
Press said: “We are always striving to make the
event more relevant and beneficial for our exhibitors and participants. A
regional centre point in the form of hubs will allow each region to debate its
specific opportunities and challenges in all sectors. Furthermore, the
inspiration zones will be used for specific regionally-focused networking
sessions.”
This year, key exhibitors at WTM London from the Middle
East will include: Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing
(DTC), Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism
Development Authority, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage,
Ajman Tourism Development Department, Oman Ministry of Tourism and Jordan
Tourism Board. Other exhibitors include Saudia Airline, QE2 Shipping LLC and
Al-Muhaidb Group of Hotel Apartments & Grand Plaza Hotels.
WTM London (5-7 November), the leading global
event for the travel industry, witnessed more than 50,000 participants in 2017,
including 10,500 buyers conducting business worth over US$4.02 billion. And
organisers are predicting a record year for 2018, boosted by a strong
contingent of exhibitors from the Middle East region.
This year, WTM London will add seven
regionally-focused Inspiration Zones to the show – UK & Ireland, Europe
& Mediterranean, Middle East & North Africa, Asia, International and
Africa – to make the event more focused on specific destinations.
Further changes to this year’s show will see the
WTM Global Stage become an Amphitheatre, holding 400 delegates. It will
continue to host the main session at the event including the WTM & UNWTO
Ministers’ Summit.
Tags:Expo 2020