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Discuss this article (0 Comments)Expect the unexpected
by ArabianBusiness.com staff writer on Monday, 19 May 2008
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This year's Arabian Travel Market is being held at a time of global economic uncertainty, but that didn't stop the Travel and Tourism Council from announcing that the Middle East is the only region to remain on course for its 5% growth target.
Three years ago, during Arabian Travel Market, a group of VIP delegates to the annual travel trade show in Dubai were whisked aboard a boat and taken 4kms across surprisingly choppy waters to a desert island.
"Welcome to The World," said the representative of the developers, Nakheel. "Welcome to Greenland.
More than 65 firms will represent Saudi Arabia at the 2008 Travel Market.
At least, the guests thought they were told Greenland. The palatial building we were being shown around looked more like a rock star's palace than an igloo. And it definitely wasn't snow between our toes.
Fast forward to January 10 this year when Nakheel, the world's largest privately-held real estate developer, laid the final stone on the breakwater for The World. Remarkably, a new world had been built in around 1,800 days.
The last stone laid was one of 34 million tonnes of rock that were used to construct the 27-km breakwater which surrounds the 300 man-made islands that together form a map of the world.
Job done, Nakheel has handed over the island to the developers of hotels and resorts, private homes, love nests, restaurants and other infrastructure. Already, almost half the islands have been sold, including Shanghai Island, bought for US$28 million by Bin Hu, a prominent Chinese businessman and director of real estate developer, Zhongzhou International.
The World was launched at Arabian Travel Market in 2003 with a huge scale model that had international trade visitors at the show shaking their heads in disbelief. At the time, there were some who questioned whether The World and the Palm were economically feasible in a part of the earth that was a relative newcomer on the global tourism map.
Subsequent strong sales of development sites on The World and Palm Islands has vindicated the faith of the islands' builders and reinforced Arabian Travel Market's reputation as the event where the travel industry comes to see tomorrow's tourism icons today.
Now in its 15th year, Reed Travel Exhibitions' Arabian Travel Market (ATM) runs at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 6 - 9. It is the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event, providing four days of intensive meetings, seminars and product launches.
Seminars cover the latest trends facing the industry from critical human resource issues in the region to recruitment and retention strategies in the Middle East's hotel industry.
"With Arabian Travel Market, we want exhibitors and visitors alike to stay ahead of the curve; it's a key requisite of doing business in one of the fastest evolving business sectors worldwide," said Simon Press, ATM Exhibition Director.
With more than 350 local companies expected to sign up for ATM 2008, the UAE is leading the global tourism contingent with its biggest ever turnout.
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Emirates Airline will be joined - among others - by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Fujairah Tourism Bureau, the UAE capital's leading tourism asset developer, TDIC, Etihad Airways, Emaar Hospitality Group LLC, Dubai Shopping Festival and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Office.
More than 65 companies will represent Saudi Arabia, providing the GCC's second largest show participation after the UAE, marking the country's intent of significantly increasing its overall tourism appeal.
Travel shorts
According to Global Futures and Foresight, by 2020 the Middle East region will add airport capacity for 300 million extra passengers, build over 200 new hotels, add 100,000 additional rooms, grow visitor numbers to 150 million, and increase the size of its aircraft fleet by more than 150 per cent by 2025.
The Jinan Al Bahr, a 24 metre sailing yacht, is unique to Oman and is available for day trips along the coast of Oman, overnight trips from Muscat to Tiwi, or for half day trips of lesser distance. It has 10 berths for those who wish to undertake a trip with an overnight stay onboard.
The yacht is equipped for snorkelling and scuba diving, and can be hired in its entirety for corporate entertaining.
Hotel revenues in Dubai grew 15.74 per cent in 2007, reaching US$3.4 billion, up from US$2.9 billion in 2006.
Hotel development across GCC countries has reached US$18 billion, according to construction monitoring company, Proleads. The UAE is leading the way with current hotel projects valued at US$12.7 billion.
Dubai Duty Free is looking at another record year with revenue for 2008 forecast to be US$1 billion, up from US$800 million in 2007.
Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay in Oman offers guests the choice of three ways of reaching the resort: a 10-minute trip by speedboat, a scenic drive down the mountains or - for adrenaline junkies - as a passenger with the Hideaway's professional paraglider.
Oman Aviation Services (OAS), the parent company of Oman Air, has announced it will invest US$4.2 million over the next four years in major IT improvements at Muscat International Airport. The move follows an impressive 22 per cent growth in passengers travelling on the airline last year.
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and strongly supported by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
According to Global Futures and Foresight, by 2020 the Middle East region will add airport capacity for 300 million extra passengers, build over 200 new hotels, add 100,000 additional rooms, grow visitor numbers to 150 million, and increase the size of its aircraft fleet by more than 150 per cent by 2025.
The Jinan Al Bahr, a 24 metre sailing yacht, is unique to Oman and is available for day trips along the coast of Oman, overnight trips from Muscat to Tiwi, or for half day trips of lesser distance. It has 10 berths for those who wish to undertake a trip with an overnight stay onboard.
The yacht is equipped for snorkelling and scuba diving, and can be hired in its entirety for corporate entertaining.
Hotel revenues in Dubai grew 15.74 per cent in 2007, reaching US$3.4 billion, up from US$2.9 billion in 2006.
Hotel development across GCC countries has reached US$18 billion, according to construction monitoring company, Proleads. The UAE is leading the way with current hotel projects valued at US$12.7 billion.
Dubai Duty Free is looking at another record year with revenue for 2008 forecast to be US$1 billion, up from US$800 million in 2007.
Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay in Oman offers guests the choice of three ways of reaching the resort: a 10-minute trip by speedboat, a scenic drive down the mountains or - for adrenaline junkies - as a passenger with the Hideaway's professional paraglider.
Oman Aviation Services (OAS), the parent company of Oman Air, has announced it will invest US$4.2 million over the next four years in major IT improvements at Muscat International Airport. The move follows an impressive 22 per cent growth in passengers travelling on the airline last year.
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and strongly supported by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
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