China, Saudi, travel tech and innovation, dominate ATM 2019 agenda

·       Chinese visitors up over 100% & international visitors up 20%

·       Massive potential of Saudi Arabia’s new ‘White Oil’ recognised

·       Travel & tourism technology now beyond disruption, say experts

This year’s Arabian Travel Market witnessed a 106% increase in visitors from China and a 20% increase in international visitors to the event, which was held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019.

ATM has grown to become the largest event of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world with visitor numbers smashing through the 28,000 mark for the third year in succession.

This year’s event showcased the largest ever exhibition from Asia, witnessing an 8% YoY increase in total floor space, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka being the largest exhibitors.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “The continued growth of ATM is testament to the continued strength of the travel and tourism industry in the Middle East.

“It not only brings together travel and tourism professionals from around the globe to discuss the potential of the regional outbound market, where GCC tourists spend over six times the global average.

“In addition, it draws major inbound players, eager to capitalize on the huge amount of investment that is being put into the region’s tourism infrastructure, including its airlines, resorts, attractions and facilities.”

The 2019 edition, which placed a spotlight on cutting-edge technology and innovation, boasted more than 400 main stand holders with over 100 new exhibitors making their debut. The number of countries represented at ATM 2019 totalled over 150.

Identifying the top tourism trends showing the greatest growth potential is one of the most valuable insights ATM has to offer, and this year’s event was no different as it launched Arabian Travel Week – an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows.

ATM 2019 formed part of the inaugural Arabian Travel Week, as well as ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum which launched this year and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper which kicked off proceedings on Saturday 27^th April.

ATM 2019 got underway with the ‘Arabia China Tourism Forum’. With the overall number of outbound tourists from China projected to hit 224 million by 2022, according to research conducted by Colliers International, the session explored how Gulf states can boost Chinese visitor numbers by catering to the younger travellers arriving from the Far East.

An expert panel revealed that unique and tech-enabled experiences represent a key component when it comes to convincing younger Chinese travellers to visit the GCC. Panellists noted that China’s free independent travellers (FITs) are looking for attractions that are not available in other markets.

Terry von Bibra, GM Europe, Alibaba Group, said: “Smaller groups [of Chinese travellers] are going to new places to discover and have unique experiences – special experiences that they can share with friends on social media, which is very important.

Another of the highlights from the Global Stage was an informative discussion on the potential benefits and pitfalls of technology implementation in the Middle East’s tourism sector. 

Panel discussion titled ‘The Big Picture – Who Will Sell Travel Best in the Future?’ revealed gulf-based travel and hospitality companies that use disruptive technologies to boost personlisation and remove friction for customers are likely to become future market leaders.

While innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and personalisation technology have the potential to boost efficiency across the industry, panellists emphasised that operators should always consider how new applications are likely to impact the customer experience.

Fouad Talaat, Regional Manager of Partner Services – MEA, Booking.com, said: “Some of us think we’re in an era of disruption but I think we’ve passed that already. I think we’re in an era of powerful customers.

“We think of ourselves as a customer-first AI company. This means that the application of any new technology is introduced to enhance the experience for our customers.”

New to ATM 2019, focused seminar ‘Why Tourism is Saudi’s New ‘White Oil’, was one of many other sessions on the Global Stage. With Kingdom-based industries in direct contact with tourists expected to generate more than US $25 billion this year, an expert panel discussed the opportunities related to upcoming tourism-focused developments and visa reforms.

The development of new projects such as The Red Sea Project and Qiddiya, both of which are completely reinventing destinations, and the creation of local attractions thanks to the Quality of Life Vision Realization Program and the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) as well as the roll-out of 30-day Umrah Plus Visas, eVisas and specialists visas for events, the Kingdom looks set to attract more tourists than ever before

Dr Badr Al Badr, CEO, Dur Hospitality, said: “We’ve been in the hospitality sector for 42 years and we’ve never seen anything like this. What’s happening now is earth shattering. The change of mindset in terms of opening up this country for visitors – whether for religious or general tourism – is definitely something to be celebrated.”

For more information about ATM 2020, visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com

Tags:ATM 2019

German National Tourist Board wraps up successful participation in Arabian Travel Market 2019

·       Significant interest shown by GCC travel professionals – GCC is Germany’s third largest non-European source market behind China and US

·       Overnight stays generated by GCC nationals grow by 130% between 2009 – 2018

·       GCC visitors to generate 3.6 million overnight stays in Germany by 2030

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 8 May 2019

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) together with a host of leading German tourism trade partners, has wrapped up another highly successful participation in this year’s Arabian Travel Market, the largest gathering of travel and tourism professionals in the wider Middle East region, which took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 28th April to 1st May 2019.

During the four-day event, trade professionals from across the region and beyond, met with representatives of the GNTB as well as its partners, covering local tourist boards, luxury hotels, hospitality, retail, spas and theme parks. Each partner had its own unique proposition, whether spring, summer, autumn or winter, emphasising that Germany is a diverse and unique all year-round travel destination.

The GNTB’s partners this year included; ‘Hotel Palace Berlin’; ‘Frankfurt Tourism and Congress Board’; ‘OUTLETCITY METZINGEN’; ‘Baden-Baden Tourism Board’; the State Tourist Board SouthWest-Germany (Baden-Württemberg Tourismus) and the Black Forest Highlands Tourism Board (Hochschwarzwald Tourismus).

VIP visitors to the GNTO stand at ATM included H.E. Mr. Günter Rauer, Consulate General of the German Consulate in Dubai and Mr. Felix Neugart, CEO of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK).

Sigrid de Mazieres, Director for the Gulf countries at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), an affiliate of the German National Tourist Board, commented, "The GCC region is an important market for the German tourism sector and we are delighted with the outcome of our participation at ATM.

“Visitors to our stand remarked about Germany’s natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and impressive infrastructure, as key reasons for travelling to Germany. We are confident that many of them, will use the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holiday and of course the subsequent summer holiday season, as ideal opportunities to visit our beautiful country.”

The GCC market is Germany’s third-largest non-European source market behind China and the US. Moreover, GCC travellers tend to stay an average of 11 nights and spend on average $5,300 per person per trip, significantly more than other international travellers.

According to the latest forecast from the GNTB, GCC nationals visiting Germany are expected to increase to 3.6 million overnight stays by 2030, compared with 1.8 million guest nights from Gulf nationals recorded in 2018, with key markets being UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

In 2009 overnight stays in Germany by GCC nationals, amounted to 770,000. By 2018 the number of overnight stays had increased to 1.8 million, which demonstrates that the annual number of overnight stays has grown by 130% over the past decade.

Tags:German National Tourist Board,Arabian Travel Market 2019

Machine learning and artificial intelligence will revolutionise the way you do business, GCC tourism firms told at ATM 2019

·       Companies that embrace innovation will be best placed to ‘sell travel’ to Gulf customers, according to panellists at ATM 2019

·       Striking the right balance between high-tech and high-touch will be a key consideration for GCC hospitality and travel operators

·       Global sales of public relations robots projected to hit 66,000 units by 2020

Technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to transform the GCC’s hospitality and travel sectors, but regional operators must strike the right balance between high-tech and high-touch.

This was the message from industry experts participating in Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, who told attendees that – if implemented effectively – the latest innovations will help them to ‘sell travel’ more effectively in the future.

Technologies such as virtual reality (VR), robotic assistants and AI chatbots are already facilitating smoother customer experiences across the industry. Global sales of public relations robots are forecasted to hit 66,000 units by 2020, and beacon technology applications in the hospitality sector are projected to be worth USD 72 billion by 2026.

charbel-sarkis-regional-head-of-travel-and-hospitality-retail-and-ecommerce-menagoogle

Charbel Sarkis, Regional Head of Travel and Hospitality, Retail and eCommerce – MENA, Google, said: “Machine learning is not something that’s going to happen in the future. It’s happening right now.

“The assistance this type of technology provides is very smart. By predicting our behaviour, it can personalise the entire travel experience. If I’m a first-time visitor to Rome, for example, I have different expectations than someone who has been five times before and is returning on business. Machine learning can help to customise the offerings we receive.”

Innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT) could also lead to increased back-of-house efficiency for the sectors such as aviation. Implementing the technology to improve unplanned maintenance costs by just one per cent, for instance, could generate industry-wide savings of up to USD 250 million per annum, according to research conducted by Colliers on behalf of ATM.

Matt Raos, Senior Vice President Business to Business – Corporate and Leisure, Emirates, called for GCC travel operators to enhance the end-to-end customer journey by implementing technologies collaboratively.

“The challenge we have is that we’re part of a broader ecosystem,” Raos said. “There is no one player that can do everything for everyone on their own. We need to acknowledge that we’re participants in this ecosystem and find ways to collaborate so that we can deliver the things that customers want.

“It’s about making the whole industry work together and proceed at a pace that’s not set by the slowest participant in the chain.”

Machine learning and AI-driven innovations such as robot concierges and butlers, as well as facial recognition and room customisation technology, are becoming increasingly popular in the international hotel sector. However, some GCC brands have been reluctant to implement innovations due to high customer expectations that have been driven by the region’s highly trained hospitality professionals.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Average IT investment by hotels currently stands at four per cent, yet almost three quarters of all manual activities in the hospitality industry have the potential to be automated. There is clearly huge potential for our industry to benefit from technology implementation.

“Nevertheless, the GCC’s hospitality and travel sectors have built up a global reputation based on high-quality, face-to-face service, so it is vital that the region strikes the right balance between high-tech and high-touch. In the longer term, companies operating in the Middle East’s tourism segment are likely to remain committed to human interaction, but with the assistance of technology.”

Running until Wednesday, 1 May, ATM 2019 will see more than 2,500 exhibitors showcase their products and services at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Viewed by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) tourism sector, last year’s edition of ATM welcomed 39,000 people, representing the largest exhibition in the history of the show.

For full details of the ATM 2019 event programme, visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com/en/events/Events-programme.

Tags:Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, Charbel Sarkis

CONNECT MEIA joins the aviation dots

·       Data, automation and industry issues debated on opening day of first CONNECT MEIA route development forum

·       Airbus spreads its ground handling wings

·       China Southern highlights new Beijing Airport opening September 30

The importance of route planning to airlines as the aviation industry faces ongoing commercial challenges was top of the agenda today (Tuesday 30 April), during the opening morning of the first CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa (MEIA) route development forum.

Speaking at the two-day show which is co-located with Arabian Travel Market 2019 is currently taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Christophe Ritter, Managing Partner, Predictive Mobility, highlighted the importance of data and said airlines had to consider a range of transport choices as well as the strength of airport connectivity.

“Why do most people go to Dubai? It’s the mass of destinations and catchment area – the whole airport concept has been designed so that Dubai is a catchment area across the UAE and the wider Middle East,” he said. “In France, we have high-speed trains and I can go to four major international airports within one-and-a-half hours.”

He caught delegates’ attention with a slide entitled ‘donuts are better than large burgers’. “When you need to analyse data, don’t take all the data, take the significant data for your analysis,” he said.

The importance of driving revenue and route sustainability was echoed by John Strickland, Director, JLS Consulting, who spoke about the state of the industry.

While airlines have a wider range of fuel-efficient, short- medium- and long-haul aircraft at their disposal – notably with the introduction of A321LR and ultra-long-haul A350s – market competition remains intesnse, reflected in the closure of Jet Airways and WOW.

“We are going to see more of these aircraft coming into the long haul as airlines seek to reduce risk and cost per seat,” he said. “We’re not seeing a dampening of demand but in order to keep loads high, airlines are cutting yields and average prices more than they would wish.”

But there was room for optimism, particularly with the growth spikes of China and India and the rising middle class. “Air travel has risen at a faster rate than population growth in India in recent years so there’s enormous opportunity,” he said.

In line with technology and innovation being the central theme to this year’s ATM, Sebastien Lavina, Manager Airport Data, Airbus, showed a video on ground handling in the ‘airport of the future’ – characterised by widespread automation featuring wireless tablets and electrical cargo robots.

“I won’t say it’s coming tomorrow but we are working on new technologies,” he said.  “We continue to build aircraft but we need to look at all aspects and the safety on the ramp is really important – so we are liaising with IATA working groups and equipment manufacturers.”

The morning session rounded off with China Southern Airlines giving a presentation on Chinese aviation, ahead of the new Beijing Daxing International Airport opening on September 30. This year it will introduce the A350 to its fleet.

“We are developing a dual-hub strategy in Guangzhou and Beijing for our long-term development,” said Grace Tang, Senior Manager, International & Corporate Relations.

While domestic operations account for 69 per cent of its flights, she said it was keen to grow international business, reflected in its new codeshare with Emirates this year, and it aims to operate 1,000 aircraft by 2020.

More than 300 aviation and airport professionals and 40 airlines are represented at the inaugural conference which bring together airline and airport executives with manufacturers and suppliers, providing a global forum for business and networking opportunities.

CONNECT MEIA forms part of Arabian Travel Week 2019, an umbrella brand that comprises three other co-located shows, including Arabian Travel Market, ATM Holiday Shopper and International Luxury Travel Market Arabia.

For more information about ATM 2019, visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.

To find out more about CONNECT MEIA, visit: https://connect-aviation.com/2019-meia

Tags:CONNECT MEIA ,Arabian Travel Week

Diversify and digitise to attract younger Muslim travellers, GCC destinations told at ATM 2019

·       

Hospitality firms should offer tailored, halal-friendly products to appeal to younger Muslim travellers, experts tell attendees at ATM 2019

·       Halal tourism expected to create 1.2 million jobs in the Middle East by 2020

·       More than 40 per cent of Muslim travellers’ global outbound spending comes from the UAE and Saudi Arabia

Gulf hospitality operators looking to increase their share of the growing halal tourism market should diversify and digitise their offerings to suit younger generations of Muslim travellers, according to experts speaking at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019.

With the GDP impact of Muslim travel in the Middle East on course to hit USD 36 billion by 2020 – up from USD 30.5 billion in 2017, according to Salam Standard – halal tourism represents a lucrative prospect for GCC hospitality brands. The segment is expected to create 1.2 million regional direct and indirect jobs by next year.

Representatives from Wego, DinarStandard, Shaza Hotels, Tripfez, Serendipity Tailormade, Mosafer C by Ummah Collaboration, holidayme, Orange County Visitors Association, Cape Town Tourism and Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) explored ways to tap into the growing segment of Gen Z and millennial travellers at the Global Halal Tourism Summit 2019, which took place on ATM’s Global Stage.

Mamoun Hmedan, Managing Director – MENA and India, Wego, said: “There are new destinations popping up out of nowhere. Developers are building properties from scratch, with halal-friendly offerings that are designed to appeal to younger generations of Muslim travellers.

“Wego does a lot of work on social media and collaborates with tourism boards to educate people about the opportunities available to them when they travel. We make sure we always have options for our customers to look for properties near to mosques or attractions that may be of interest to Muslim travellers.”

Approximately 41 per cent of Muslim travellers’ global outbound spending comes from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to figures released by Salam Standard. The Middle East’s total outbound spend is projected to grow to USD 72 billion by 2020.

In addition to emerging trends such as eco, ethical, all-female, experiential, gastro and adventure tourism, panellists also discussed digitisation and success stories from ‘non-Muslim’ destinations such as Orange County, Cape Town and Japan.

Chris Nader, Vice President, Shaza Hotels, said: “Gen Z and millennial travellers are setting the trends in halal tourism. The biggest challenge for us involves the resort side of the market – providing the privacy and facilities that Muslim guests need while delivering the entertainment they are looking for. It can be a challenge to create that mix.

“Whenever we create a resort, we have to develop something that is culturally relevant to the location. Travellers are no longer looking for ‘just a hotel’; they want to know what we can offer in terms of experiences. So, Muslim travellers don’t necessarily need to see halal branding but they do need to know that halal services are available.”

Industry-wide investment in halal tourism-related travel technology currently stands at approximately USD 40 million, according to research conducted by DinarStandard. Panellists agreed that this figure is likely to grow further in the future, as younger Muslim travellers continue to drive innovation in online services.

Faeez Fadhlillah, CEO, Tripfez, said: “If you look at the distribution of millennials globally, many of them are living in Muslim-majority countries. In the next 10 years, the youth in this region are going to play a significant role in driving tourism trends. That’s why online travel agencies are so interested in meeting demand from Muslim travellers. Companies are doing everything they can to capture this market.”

Running until Wednesday, 1 May, ATM 2019 will see more than 2,500 exhibitors showcase their products and services at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Viewed by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) tourism sector, last year’s edition of ATM welcomed 39,000 people, representing the largest exhibition in the history of the show.

For more information about ATM 2019, visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com

Tags: Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019

ATM to launch inaugural M.E. edition of Travel Forward in 2020

·       Event to showcase next-gen industry innovations as part of Middle East’s largest gathering of hospitality professionals

·       Conference will connect buyers and suppliers from around the world, enabling delegates to take advantage of latest industry tools

·       Building on success of London edition, the Middle East’s first Travel Forward event forms part of Arabian Travel Week 2020

Travel, tourism and hospitality professionals from around the world will have an opportunity to explore the next generation of industry innovations at the Middle East’s first ever edition of Travel Forward, which will take place alongside Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020.

The travel and hospitality innovation event will connect buyers and suppliers from across the Middle East and beyond, enabling delegates to try out the latest industry tools and take advantage of technologies that could boost efficiency and improve the customer experience.

The event will cover the full spectrum of industry tools, from emerging innovations such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and machine learning, to existing systems such as booking engines, business management software and end-user technology.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “In today’s ultra-competitive travel, tourism and hospitality markets, the effective implementation of innovative technologies is essential to the long-term success of any business. By identifying the right tools to meet their needs, industry professionals can give themselves a competitive edge.

“That is why events such as Travel Forward are so important to our sector’s future. By bringing together buyers and suppliers, and facilitating face-to-face interactions, the show will make it easier for participants to identify and test innovative technologies and applications that could help to achieve their long-term goals.”

Travel Forward will form part of next year’s Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand comprising several co-located shows including Arabian Travel Market 2020; ATM Holiday Shopper; CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa; and ILTM Arabia.

The original edition of Travel Forward was launched during World Travel Market 2018 in London. Based on the success of the event to date, organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions rolled out a Latin America edition earlier this year, and plans to introduce both Middle East and South Africa editions in 2020.

Richard Gayle, Event Manager, Travel Forward at WTM London, said: “The London edition of Travel Forward has attracted widespread industry interest since its launch in 2018. The event not only allows technology suppliers to showcase their products and services to buyers on a one-to-one basis, but also enables travel, tourism and hospitality professionals to get hands-on experience with technologies that could transform their operations.

“The Middle East edition of the show will enable industry players from across the Gulf to engage with the latest innovations by bringing these technologies to their doorstep.”

Delegates at the Middle East event will have access to high-profile keynote speakers and a world-class line-up of technology experts, and the event’s organiser plans to limit the number of exhibitors so that suppliers and buyers can be more effectively aligned.

Travel Forward will include a dedicated product theatre, enabling exhibitors to conduct live demonstrations for attendees. The event will also feature ‘Pitch It – Prove It’ start-up challenge, in which suppliers will not only explain the theory behind their innovations but also demonstrate their advantages in real time.

The standalone event will build on the success of ATM 2019’s theme, cutting-edge technology and innovation, which has been integrated across all show verticals and activities, including its focused seminar sessions.

For more information about ATM 2019, visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.

To find out more about Travel Forward, visit: https://travelforward.wtm.com.

Tags: Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabia China Tourism Forum

According to UNWTO, Chinese visitors are the highest spenders in overseas travelling, having spent 258 Billion USD in 2017. This is twice as much as  the Americans, three times of Germans, four times of the British and six times more than the French.  As a result, many destinations and businesses are keen on attracting Chinese visitors.  The main objective of Arabia China Tourism Forum at ATM is to provide foreign destinations, promotion authorities of national, regional and local level, as well as local suppliers and incoming operators with the opportunity to learn the latest development of outbound travel from China. As well as, how to attract and cater for the ever changing trends of outbound travel from China such as increasing number of FIT visitors Vs Group travel; fast growing younger generation Vs significant decrease of official delegations etc. 

The Forum consists of a panel discussion from 15.30-16.30, followed by B2B meetings and networking from 16.30-17.30, with over 80 Chinese tour operators attending Arabian Travel Market as buyers.

Tags:Arabian Travel Market,Chinese visitors