·
High-profile
panellists speaking on the ATM Global Stage said flexibility and sustainability
would drive long-term growth in regional travel and tourism
·
Speakers
called for more agile, responsive and environmentally focused operations to
support the tourism industry’s ongoing post-pandemic recovery
· Other highlights from the opening day of ATM 2022 included the ARIVALDubai@ATM forum and the ITIC-ATM Ministerial Roundtable
The opening session of the
29th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM)
– the Middle East’s largest travel and tourism showcase – took place live in
Dubai this morning, shining a spotlight on the future of international travel
and tourism within the region and beyond.
As the post-pandemic recovery of the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector continues apace, industry leaders took to the ATM Global Stage to explore the latest trends and global movements that are steering the sector forward. Flexibility, responsiveness, sustainability and innovation were all highlighted as catalysts for long-term success.
Moderated by Eleni Giokos,
Anchor and Correspondent at CNN, the opening session’s panellists included
Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and
Commerce Marketing; Scott Livermore, Chief Economist at Oxford Economics;
Jochem-Jam Sleiffer, President – Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Hilton;
Bilal Kabbani, Industry Head – Travel and Tourism at Google; and Andrew Brown,
Regional Director – Europe, Middle East and Oceania at the World Travel &
Tourism Council (WTTC).
Commenting
on the ever-increasing importance of environmentally responsible travel and
tourism, Issam Kazim said: “A few years ago, we launched special awards to
recognise the efforts that hotels in Dubai are making in advancing
sustainability within the emirate’s tourism industry. We have now broadened
this with the continued support of our valued stakeholders and partners to
ensure that everyone operating in the travel and tourism space is working with
sustainability at top of mind. We are also highlighting its importance to
residents and visitors, as evident in the launch of the Dubai Can
sustainability initiative.
“With
the post-pandemic era set to create a highly competitive landscape, our
successful tourism recovery strategy is still evolving in keeping to the
disruption taking place across global tourism. As we continue to embrace
creativity and innovation to stay ahead of the curve, we will remain focused on
creating alternative pathways to growth as we strive to achieve the goal of our
visionary leadership to make Dubai the world’s most sought-after destination
and the best place in the world to live and work in,” Kazim added.
Kazim’s fellow panellists
cited examples such as Expo 2020 Dubai as proof of the emirate’s success in
following through on its travel and tourism-related commitments, noting that
destinations across the Middle East are working hard to mirror this success.
Panellists also noted that
domestic travel had rebounded at a faster pace than international travel in the
Middle East. Regional trips accounted for 55 percent of demand in 2019,
according to Scott Livermore, and this figure grew to more than 80 percent
during the segment’s post-Covid peak. While Livermore predicted the proportion
of regional trips accounted for by international travel would continue to recover
in the future, he also pointed out that the importance of domestic travel was
likely to persist.
In addition, speakers
highlighted the role of mega-events, such as Expo 2020 Dubai and FIFA World Cup
Qatar 2022, in ensuring tourism in the Middle East continues to recover more
rapidly than in other regions. Panellists also noted that, while issues related
to the supply chain and oil prices represent challenges for the sector, they
remain cautiously optimistic due to high levels of pend-up demand in the wake
of the pandemic.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME
for Arabian Travel Market, said: “Speakers during our opening session offered a
selection of fascinating insights into the future of the Middle East’s travel
and tourism sector.
“Industry professionals
are going to great lengths to meet customers’ evolving requirements in the wake
of the global pandemic, and it was interesting to learn about the steps already
taken to ensure the long-term success of travel and tourism in our region.
“We look forward to
hearing much more from travel and tourism experts from around the world during
the next four days of ATM 2022,” Curtis added.
Elsewhere on the agenda:
Day one of ATM 2022
featured 15 in-depth sessions across the ATM Global Stage and ATM Travel Tech
Stage.
In addition to the opening
session, other day one highlights included the commencement of the ARIVALDubai@ATM forum; the ITIC-ATM
Middle East Summit Ministerial Roundtable; and the first of two
sessions focused on the key market of Saudi
Arabia.
Day two will commence with
valuable insights from a selection of industry leaders on the evolution
of the aviation sector (ATM Global Stage). After lunch, Paul Kelly,
Managing Partner of marketing and consumer consultancy D/A, will explore how
brands can more effectively connect with the Arabic
travel audience (ATM Global Stage). Also taking place tomorrow, the
inaugural ATM
Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition will see a selection of our
region’s most innovative start-ups pitch to our panel of industry experts (ATM
Travel Tech Stage).
Now in its 29th
year and working in collaboration with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the
emirate’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), ATM 2022 features 1,500
exhibitors, representatives from 112 global destinations, and an anticipated
20,000 visitors during the course of the four-day event.
For full details of the
ATM 2022 programme, including topics, organisers and participant bios, visit https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/whats-on/atm-conference-programme.html#/sessions.
If you are planning to attend ATM in-person, please feel
free to post using the hashtags #ImGoingtoATM
and #ATMDubai
To register for ATM 2022, go to https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/enquire.html.
For more news about ATM, you can visit https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/.
