January
Cover story: ATN’s ‘National treasure’ front cover featured Arabian Adventures operations controller Mediya Mohd Suroor Bin Hadi who called on Emiratis to join the UAE’s travel and tourism industry to promote their country to the world.
The highs: BA announced its re-entry into the KSA market; Royal Caribbean vowed to support the travel trade through thick and thin; and business solutions specialist Illusions unveiled a deal with Al Rais Travel to provide its IT software and solutions.
The lows: The travel trade started to feel the pinch of the recession with many noting a distinct change in corporate travel policies for the worse. IATA forecast that Middle Eastern airlines would see US $200 million losses in 2009. Locally, the Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG) banned non-members from the body’s meetings.
The quirky: ATN spent 12 hours at BA’s Terminal 5 — and loved it?!
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February
Cover story: ‘Beating the bear’ — ATN asked industry experts for their views on how travel agents could stay afloat during the bearish economic conditions.
The highs: The UAE Government revealed plans to establish a UAE tourism council, while Prime Travel opened an outlet in Baghdad and Asia Pacific tourism boards joined forces to create a council.
The lows: Tourism boards expressed concern over the timing of Arabian Travel Market saying it was too late in the year, particularly with Ramadan falling during the summer; Virgin Atlantic finally scrapped travel agent commission; and Kanoo Travel in Manama scored badly when mystery shoppers came to visit.
The quirky: Dubai-based travel agents rave to Arabian Travel News about a fam trip to Norway with SAS and Hurtigruten, but not a single one manages to sell the destination following their visit.
March
Cover story: ‘The Obama Effect’ cover explored how the US presidency would positively impact the country’s ailing inbound tourism industry.
The highs: ATN celebrated its third birthday and asked, ‘where are they now’, speaking to industry professionals who appeared in the publication’s first every issue (March 1, 2006); BCD Travel opened two new UAE outlets; Dnata opened outlet in Afghanistan; and short-haul trips boomed as budgets tightened.
The lows: Four Dubai travel agencies shut-up shop as the recession kicked in; GCC market to Egypt suffered due to unfair rates system; LJ Travel & Tourism in Kuwait scored poorly in ATN’s mystery shopping exercise.
The quirky: When asked what changes had occurred in the industry over the past three years, Abu Dhabi Travel & Tourism Agencies Committee’s Hani Khorsheed declared that nothing much had happened.
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