EVENTS
EVENTS Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #34 2017 Spring Edition 7 20+ MINISTERS GATHER @ ATM Tourism and economic growth under the spotlight at UNWTO & Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum 2017 Over 20 Ministers and industry leaders will gather at the Ministerial Forum to discuss how tourism can play a role in the future of the MENA region. Visitors to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will total 195 million by 2030, growing at a rate higher than the world average, according to figures by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). This translates into 195 million international tourists by 2030, meaning between 25 million and 50 million new jobs will be required in the region over the next decade. The rapid development of the sector will form part of the discussion at the UNWTO & ATM Ministerial Forum at the Arabian Travel Market, taking place on April 24 in the Dubai World Trade Centre, United Arab Emirates. The Forum, an official event of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 returns to ATM this year, with a particular focus on the contribution of tourism to sustainable economic growth and economic diversification of the MENA region. Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, says the Middle East has experienced huge changes since the UNWTO Ministers Forum was last held at ATM back in 2015: “This year will reflect the pace and level of that development, uniting more than 20 ministers with industry leaders in the MENA region to consider methods of capitalising on tourism growth and building a sustainable ecosystem for the sector to unlock its potential within each country’s National Agenda. Specific areas of focus will include GDP growth and economic diversification, innovation, entrepreneurship and productivity, job creation, human capital and infrastructure development, investment and export promotion.” ATM 2016 ILTM ARABIA LAUNCHES IN 2017 AS OUTBOUND TRAVEL MARKET SET TO BE WORTH 5 BILLION BY 2025 For the first time, ILTM Arabia will take place on the first two days of the four-day ATM (Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 April). The event coincides with news that, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, expenditure on outbound travel from the Middle East is expected to reach 5.3 billion by 2025. ILTM Arabia will target high net-worth travellers from throughout the GCC and wider Middle East region, with buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar expected to have a particularly strong presence
