The Kingdom's exhibitors will stage the GCC's second largest show participation at the Arabian Travel Market 2008 - slated on May 6-9 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center - after the United Arab Emirates, a statement from the organizers said on Sunday. With over 65 companies expected to sign up for the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event, the Kingdom shows its intent of boosting its tourism industry. Leading the Saudi Arabian contingent is the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (GCTA) and the Kingdom's two private airlines, Sama and National Air Services (NAS). Joining the GCTA, NAS and Sama at this year's show will be Hyatt International EAME Ltd, Elaf Group of Companies, Mamlakat Al-Asfar Travel & Tourism, Alrawada Investment for Real Estate Development and Unique Choice. “Arabian Travel Market allows us to showcase Saudi Arabia as a destination and offers an opportunity for participating tourism partners to see latest trends impacting our industry. The show also puts us in touch with key leaders in the travel and tourism industry,” said Dr. Fahad AlJarboa, assistant deputy secretary general for Marketing, GCTA. “The GCTA is coming back to Arabian Travel Market for the sixth time with the purpose of promoting Saudi Arabia as a summer destination to GCC nationals while at the same time highlighting some of tourism investment opportunities to the larger business community.” Arabian Travel Market organizers', Reed Travel Exhibitions, believes that this year's event, with its increased content and product offering, largest seminar program to date and global exhibitor base spanning over 60 countries will have significant appeal to the Kingdom's tourism industry as an important business and knowledge platform. “Arabian Travel Market provides local and internationally-based travel agents, tourism organizations and key industry decision makers a wealth of opportunities to be a part of the latest trends and meet the global thought leaders in a highly flexible, face-to-face environment in which a wide range of sales and marketing objectives can be achieved,” said Simon Press, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market. “Saudi Arabia has massive wealth in terms of both internal and external tourism potential. With heavy governmental backing, the Kingdom is establishing a unique and sound tourism potential, backed by solid infrastructure and transport developments, which appeals to a diverse audience. “We expect to see a strong presence again this year from the Saudi tourism sector, both as exhibitors and trade visitors. The Kingdom has always been well represented at Arabian Travel Market and we expect the same to be true in 2008 as the local industry continues to realize the need to keep abreast of trends and seize new opportunities.” With an increasing market proposition and tourism potential, Reed Travel Exhibitions has flagged Saudi Arabia as a high potential market for visitors to Arabian Travel Market 2008. “Visitor interest for this year's event has been phenomenal and we are extremely optimistic regarding quality and quantity. With visitor registrations up on this time last year, many buyers have expressed interest in Saudi's tourism offerings, with this figure expected to rise as we get closer to the show opening next month,” said Press. “On the other hand, trade visitors from the Kingdom will also have a wealth of possibility to identify and pursue outbound and inbound offerings from across the globe.” Reed Travel Exhibitions has made some fundamental changes to this year's Arabian Travel Market to foster an increased B2B setting and encourage greater interaction between visitors, exhibitors and key decision makers. This year's hosted buyer initiative, which will bring in 125 top international exclusive and first time Hosted Buyers to Arabian Travel Market, is the biggest to date with specialists from the MICE sector and from the leisure and golf segment - providing a unique opportunity for Saudi Arabia's travel and tourism industry to meet the right partners in a convenient one-stop-shop setting. __
