DRDubai: Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated ATM 2018 on Monday, marking the start of the 25th edition of the Middle East’s largest travel and tourism event. He was joined by Nick Pilbream, Divisional Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, and other VIPs who embarked on a tour of the exhibition as the four-day industry showcase got underway.
This year’s show, which is taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 22-25, has more than 400 main stand holders with representation from over 150 countries. With over 40,000 visitors expected to attend, Arabian Travel Mart will showcase over 2,500 exhibiting companies – of these, 100 will be making their show debut – and 65 national pavilions.
Celebrating its 25th year, ATM 2018 has adopted Responsible Tourism, including sustainable travel trends, as its main theme and this will be integrated across all show verticals and activities.
There will be a series of seminars looking back on how tourism has changed and developed in the MENA region over the last quarter of a century and also forecasting what lies ahead for the industry over the next 25 years.
In addition, the show will feature four days of business networking opportunities and advice clinics as well as a full programme of insightful seminars, including Halal Tourism, Travel Technology, Aviation, Instagram and Airbnb to name a few.
On the Global Stage, the opening session ‘Future Travel Experiences’ will take place from 1.30pm on April 22, with a high-profile panel, including Christoph Muller, Chief Digital and Innovation officer, Emirates Airline; and Harj Dhaliwal, Managing Director, Middle East and India Field Operations, Virgin Hyperloop One.
Also new this year is the ATM Student Conference – ‘Career in Travel’. Taking place on the final day, the programme is aimed at ‘tomorrow’s’ travel professionals and hoteliers. For the first time, ATM has partnered with the organisers of the International Hotel Investment Conference (IHIF) to present the inaugural Destination Investment panel.
Taking place on April 23 on the ATM Global Stage, the session will discuss what drives investment in travel destinations across the Middle East and neighbouring regions.
