For the second year running, Arabian Travel Market 2013 will host a special
UNWTO forum, with this year's session taking place on Tuesday 7th May 2013,
under the theme 'Aviation and Tourism Policies: Balancing the Benefits'.
Following on from a highly successful and dynamic discussion at this year's
World Travel Market UNWTO forum, which focused on the topics of visa
facilitation and air transport policies as key drivers for tourism co-operation and
sector growth, the second annual UNWTO gathering at Arabian Travel Market
2013 will bring regional airlines, tourism leaders and the UNWTO together to
discuss the role of the industry in driving Middle East tourism growth and the
regional influence on its tourism strategies and policy.
"The theme for this year's forum is particularly relevant, and timely, as IATA
reports indicate that the Middle East will handle 400 million air travellers by 2020
as a number of new state-of-the-art airports come on line, major carriers expand
their route networks, and aircraft orders from the Gulf region add new capacity,"
remarked Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of
Arabian Travel Market.
"Route network expansion for the Middle East's major carriers is driving domestic
and international tourism demand. Regional aviation sector growth forecasts
remain positive through to 2020, buoyed by up to US$90 billion worth of
investment into infrastructure expansion in key gateway destinations," he added.
A full schedule of events and networking sessions will mark the 20th anniversary
of the Arabian Travel Market exhibition with air travel one of the eight major
vertical sectors during the weeklong event, alongside budget travel, careers,
health and wellbeing, luxury, shopping, sports, and cruise and water-based
travel.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the
2012 edition of the Middle East's leading travel exhibition showcased 2,436
exhibitors covering over 20,000 square metres and attracted more than 23,000
attendees.
Arabian Travel Market 2013 will be held at the Dubai International Convention
& Exhibition Centre from 6-9 May 2013. For more information, go to
www.arabiantravelmarket.com |
