Canada will next week make its Arabian Travel Market debut with Tourism Toronto heading a high-powered delegation to the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event.
Joining the Canadian ATM mission will be Ontario Tourism, the Niagara Parks Commission, Canadian Tours International and Delta Chelsea Hotel-Toronto.
The debut follows a high-level fact-finding mission to last year’s ATM, which was led by the Ontario Deputy Minister of Tourism, to explore tourism business opportunities between the destinations.
“The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an emerging market for leisure, meetings and incentive business travel to Toronto and Ontario and through our ATM presence we hope to expand upon business contacts and destination awareness with both trade visitors and consumers,” said Roseanne Longo, Vice President, Sales at Tourism Toronto.
Tourism between the two countries will be further boosted when Etihad, the UAE’s national airline, introduces direct Abu Dhabi-Toronto services, at the end of May, replacing its current thrice-weekly connecting flights via Brussels.
“There is no doubt that the expanding commercial airline landscape within the Middle East is bringing new destinations into the marketplace and that is reflected in geographic exhibitor spread,” said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises the show
ATM 2007, which will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 1-4, will be the biggest and most comprehensive in its 14-year history.
“Nearly 2,600 exhibitors from over 60 countries, including more than 61 national and regional tourism bodies, are taking part,” said Walsh. “Destinations represented for the first time include Croatia, Macau, Nigeria, Palestine, Swaziland, Taiwan and Zimbabwe.”
Some 114 show newcomers will be at ATM and include destination management companies, Asian and European travel technology specialists, African and Asian health resorts and spas as well as travel and tour operators.
“The sheer scale and scope of the new-to-market offerings hold out enormous business opportunities for the regional and international industry,” said Walsh.
ATM 2007 will also feature initiatives designed to enhance the visitor and exhibitor experience, including a dedicated travel and technology area and a tourism development pavilion focussing on the region’s emerging mega-project destinations.
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 and Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.
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