Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 will open its doors next week (Monday 9 to Thursday 12 May), playing host to 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 112 global destinations, and an anticipated 20,000 attendees.
The live show will be followed by ATM Virtual, which will run from Tuesday 17 to Wednesday 18 May.
Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in collaboration with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the 29th edition of ATM will form an essential part of the UAE’s annual Arabian Travel Week.
In keeping with this year’s theme of ‘The future of international travel and tourism’, ATM 2022 will feature a wide selection of sessions and events, enabling industry professionals from around the world to discuss current trends and explore long-term opportunities within the fields of travel, transportation, tourism, hospitality, events, attractions and more.
Kerry Prince, Chief Growth Officer, at RX, which organises the show, said: “Business travel expenditure in the Middle East is forecast to rise by 32 per cent this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and these figures underscore the positive sentiment, that we’ve experienced throughout the region.
“This naturally bodes well for yet another successful edition of ATM, providing a catalyst to put our industry firmly on the path to a robust and sustainable recovery, alongside our partners the DET and of course the DWTC.”
The show floor at this year’s edition will be more than 85 per cent larger than at ATM 2021. This growth is thanks to the expansion of several sector- and region-specific zones, including Travel Tech (380 per cent); hotels (71 per cent); the Middle East (57 per cent); Africa (56 per cent); Asia (50 per cent); and Europe (49 per cent).
ATM 2022 will include in-depth buyer forums dedicated to India and Saudi Arabia, enabling attendees to explore trends and potential opportunities within both key markets. The show floor will also feature live interviews with aviation and hospitality experts; debates on the future of sports, city and responsible tourism; digital influencer networking; best stand awards; and the return of ILTM Arabia, with its focus on the lucrative luxury travel market.
Capitalising on the upward trajectory of regional tourism investment, the ITIC-ATM Middle East Summit – hosted jointly by ATM and the International Tourism Investment Conference (ITIC) – will shine a spotlight on access to project finance in the post-Covid era. With speakers including Gerald Lawless, Director of ITIC and WTTC Ambassador; Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism; and Dr Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC and former Secretary-General of the UNWTO, this event will provide a timely opportunity for travel and tourism professionals to explore investment opportunities, discover new modes of financing, and network with peers from around the world.
Coinciding with day one of the show (May 9), the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2022 will be staged at Conrad Dubai, with the winners of some 41 categories announced, including 10 airline awards, four airport awards, 19 hotel awards and new for 2022, eight leisure and lifestyle award.
