The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) exhibition is sold out ahead of next month’s 20th anniversary event, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, 6-9 May 2013.
According to its organisers the ongoing effects of the Euro zone crisis has promoted popular Mediterranean destinations to target growth opportunities in the GCC markets.
Demand has pushed show floor space to more than 22,000 sq m, a 6% increase over last year.
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Technology will have a big presence at this year’s show, which has grown by 34% and hogs 1,700 sq m of floor space at the exhibition.
Geographically two of the best performing regions at the show are Europe and North Africa.
Each region has grown by 20% and 35% respectively to cover 4,000 sq m, 18% of the total exhibition space, as hotels and resorts of the Mediterranean coast in particular, look for a larger share of the GCC outbound market.
According to figures revealed by ATM organisers from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism office in Dubai, the number of tourists travelling to Turkey from the GCC region has increased significantly in the past few years, with over 370% growth from the UAE, 331% for Kuwait and almost 600% from Qatar for the period to August 2012 versus 2011.
Turkey has taken an additional 25% of exhibition floor space this year.
Egypt is placing similar emphasis on attracting Gulf-based travellers to its shores. According to tourism minister, Hisham Zaazou, Egypt is committed to restoring consumer confidence and hoping to achieve pre-2010 tourism levels by the end of 2013.
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