Business travel expenditure
in the Middle East is forecast to rise by 32% this year, following a predicted
49% increase during 2021, according to a report by the World Travel &
Tourism Council (WTTC) published in November 2021.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel
Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre
(DWTC) from 9-12 May 2022, said, “This positive data will provide a welcome
boost for business travel and tourism professionals throughout the Middle East region,
as economies around the world begin to relax travel restrictions, despite the
disruption caused by the outbreak of the Omicron variant.
“During 2021, the increase in
business spending for the full year is expected to have actually outpaced
spending on leisure travel by 13%, 10% and 1% in the Middle East, Europe and
Africa respectively.
“Aviation experts speaking at
ATM 2021, had expected business travel to lag behind leisure travel, but this estimated
increase of 32%, comes on top of a predicted rise during 2021 of 49% which
although 2020 was a challenging year, the business travel segment is now
clearly accelerating towards pre pandemic levels,” added Curtis.
In terms of business travel
spending in 2021, the report ranks the Middle East region first with an increase
of 49%, followed by Europe and Africa (36%), Asia Pacific (32%) and the
Americas (14%). According to the report, the Asia Pacific region will lead the
world in 2022 with growth in spending of 41%, followed by the Americas with a
35% increase, the Middle East 32%, Europe on 28% and Africa with a 23% rise.
“Business travel will also be
under the spotlight this year on the ATM Global Stage, where the world’s
premier business travel and meetings trade organisation, Global Business Travel
Association (GBTA), will discuss its latest business travel content and research,
during two main sessions - ‘The future of business travel’ and ‘Building a
sustainable business travel programme’,” said Curtis.
The WTTC report was compiled
in collaboration with McKinsey & Company called ‘Adapting to Endemic
Covid-19: The Outlook for Business Travel’ and draws on research, analysis and
in-depth interviews with travel & tourism business leaders to enable
organisations to prepare for corporate travel in the post-pandemic era.
The report concluded, ‘…our
research shows room for optimism with Asia Pacific and the Middle East first
off the starting blocks’.
Now in its 29th year and
working in collaboration with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s
Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) – formerly the Department of Tourism
and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) – ATM show highlights in 2022 will include, among
others, destination summits focused on the key source markets of Saudi Arabia,
Russia and India.
One new feature this year
will be ATM Travel Tech. Previously called Travel Forward, the rebranded and
revamped event will feature the ATM Travel Tech Stage hosting seminars, debates
and presentations including pitches from finalists in the brand-new ATM
Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition.
The
dedicated ARIVALDubai@ATM forum will cover current and future trends for tour
operators and attractions, focusing on growing business through marketing,
technology, distribution, thought leadership and executive-level connections.
ATM will once again play an
integral role in Arabian Travel Week, a festival of events dedicated to
enabling travel professionals from all over the world to collaborate and shape
the recovery of the Middle East travel industry through exhibitions,
conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, product launches and networking
events.
The UAE remains one of the
most Covid-secure countries on the planet, with consistently low case rates and
robust measures to ensure tourists' safety at every stage of their visit. Like
its neighbouring emirates, Dubai is committed to maintaining the highest
hygiene and safety standards. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has
endorsed its pandemic management, awarding the city a 'Safe Travels' stamp.
In line with the UAE government’s
forward-thinking transition to a four-and-a-half-day, Monday-to-Friday
workweek, this year’s edition of ATM will commence on Monday 9 May.
If you’d like to learn more
about ATM, visit wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html.
