The Chairman of Dubai World Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, inaugurated the 29th edition of the Middle East’s largest travel and tourism exhibition Arabian Travel Market (ATM) on 9 May 2022.
ATM 2022 is part of Arabian Travel Week, a 10-day festival of travel and tourism events taking place in Dubai.
Sheikh Ahmed said Dubai hosts global events that bring together decision-makers in the sector from across the globe.
This contributes to worldwide efforts to open new growth horizons for the industry, he noted.
Sheikh Ahmed appreciated Dubai’s ability to provide a safe environment for both tourism and prominent global events over the past two years.
He also praised its success in overcoming the repercussions of the recent worldwide health crisis have enabled it to welcome large numbers of visitors from all over the world.
“Dubai provides a unique model for sustainable development that not only promotes economic progress within the nation but also stimulates growth in the region and broader global markets”, he noted.
The Arabian Travel Market provides a vital platform for tourism and travel industry leaders in the Middle East and across the world to connect and network with each other and discover new opportunities for growth, collaboration and success,” he said.
Taking place from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 May, this year’s event is more than 85% larger than ATM 2021 in terms of floorspace, with growth in every single region.
ATM 2022 features 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 158 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.
The event will be hosted at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) in collaboration with DET, ATM 2022’s theme – ‘The future of international travel and tourism’ – will be reflected throughout the show.
The ATM Global Stage and ATM Travel Tech Stage will host 40 conference sessions comprising 150 speakers.
The ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition is the new attraction this year, which has generated a huge buzz since its launch.
The initiative will see up to 15 travel, tourism, and hospitality innovators pitch for up to $500,000 of funding – and the opportunity to compete for an additional $500,000 of investment as part of the hit TV show, Meet the Drapers.
In addition, ATM 2022 will include in-depth buyer forums dedicated to India and Saudi Arabia; live interviews with aviation and hospitality experts; debates on the future of sports, city and responsible tourism.
This includes ITIC-ATM Middle East Summit on tourism investment; digital influencer networking; best stand awards; and the return of ILTM Arabia, with its focus on the lucrative luxury travel market.