ATM promotes quality over quantity

Arabian Travel Market organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) claims the 2008 event attracted a better quality of visitors than last year - and most exhibitors tend to agree.

We all knew that 2008 was ATM's biggest show yet in terms of exhibitors, with 2200 from 70 countries represented, but the question on everyone's lips was whether or not visitor numbers were up.

Opinion was divided: exhibitors with whom ATN spoke at the show generally concurred that day one (May 6) was definitely busier but that day three (May 8) was markedly more quiet than in previous years.

Official visitor numbers had not been released at time of press and will be subject to an audit, but what ATM organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) did say was that the number of quality visitors attending the 2008 event had increased 15% on 2007 figures.

"We have seen very positive increases in the quality of visitor coming through the show's doors this year," said exhibition director Simon Press.

"With considerable purchasing power, these visitors have the authority to sign deals on the spot, reiterating the importance buyers place on the region as a key tourism market.

Total visitor numbers nudged over the 15,000-mark in 2007 compared to 13,100 in 2006 and prior to ATM RTE said it believed 2008 visitor numbers could reach 17,000 this year.

For 2008, Reed invited 125 international and regional hosted buyers who represented major tour operators, meeting planners and other decision-makers - this compared to 100 in 2007.

Tourism Australia GCC distribution director Andrew Oldfield agreed with RTE that this year's ATM saw a better quality of delegates visit his stand.
 

"There were fewer time-wasters and a better quality of travel agent that wanted to do business," he told ATN.

Sharaf Travel senior sales executive Murtuza Khalid said the company had conducted 15% more business than in previous years while Korean National Tourism Organisation manager Hojoo Sung said the show was "very helpful" and that he was considering taking a bigger stand next year.

Silverjet steps in to fill Eos void at ATM

Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) has played down the financial impact of the last-minute withdrawal of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) headline sponsor Eos Airlines from the event.

"Silverjet stepped in so it hasn't affected us a great deal," RTE director Richard Mortimore told Arabian Travel News.

"I think it's more a reflection of what's going on in the business-only airline industry at the moment," he added.

London-Stansted based Eos Airlines filed for bankruptancy protection on April 27, just 10 days before ATM kicked off (May 6-9).

Rival, London-Luton based Silverjet, not only stepped in as headline sponsor for Arabian Travel Market, but also offered Eos customers cut-price seats, subject to availability, on its London-Newark services.

Eos had planned to follow in the footsteps of Silverjet and launch a Dubai service in June, hence its ATM sponsorship deal.
 

Europe back-ended at ATM

European exhibitors have expressed disappointment at being herded together at the back of Zabeel Hall at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2008.

VisitBritain in particular is considering pulling out of the 2009 installment of the trade show unless it secures a better position next year.

"I've already told the organisers that I'm not taking part next year unless they give us a better spot," said VisitBritain regional marketing manager Carol Maddison speaking to Arabian Travel News at the show.

The VisitBritain stand was located at the back of Zabeel Hall, described by Maddison as "the back of beyond" and therefore did not benefit from passing foot traffic.

Czech Tourism Trade Fairs manager Martina Kolarova added: "The problem for a lot of European countries is the location within the exhibition halls.

"Europe is right at the end this year so there haven't been as many visitors as last year."

Tourism Ireland's GCC manager Leo Fewtrell said he would follow VisitBritain's lead as he believed the best positioning for his stand was next to the UK.

"The two fit together nicely," he said, "but I will be speaking to Carol [at VisitBritain] about what she thinks is the best plan [for next year]".

On a more positive note, Geraldine Egan, manager of new and developing markets for Tourism Ireland, which was exhibiting at the show for the third time, said she was "very happy" with the response the country had received at this year's show.

She acknowledged that Tourism Ireland would, however, request a more prominent stand position next year.

Most European exhibitors with whom ATN spoke said they would be back in 2009.