“This has been identified as both an underdeveloped and potential growth area for the region, driven by demand from the growing middle class markets such as China, India and Africa combined with budget Generation Y travellers and young families,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market.
The focus for the 23rd edition Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai from April 25-28 will be mid-market tourism – a key area of opportunity for Middle East destinations looking to diversify their source markets and attract a larger volume of visitors.
“This has been identified as both an underdeveloped and potential growth area for the region, driven by demand from the growing middle class markets such as China, India and Africa combined with budget Generation Y travellers and young families,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market.
A key point of discussion will be the number of new hotel rooms entering the market, including the share that is planned to be in the four- and three-star classification.
Dubai currently has a total hotel key count of approximately 94,000 and this figure is set to rise to between 140,000 and 160,000 keys by 2020 with around 20% set to target the mid-market hotel sector, according to a recent Knight Frank report.
Midmarket focused seminars include the opening session, Dubai of the Future. Panelists, including Gerald Lawless, head of tourism, Dubai Holding, will pinpoint the source markets Dubai should be targeting, including mid-market travellers, families, young independent travellers and couples in order to evolve over the next two decades.
An additional exhibition hall has been added to ATM this year to cater to rising demand.
Other new features at this year’s event include the Wellness & Spa Lounge, a dedicated space for 25 exhibitors designed to connect Middle East wellness and spa buyers with international suppliers in a series of pre-scheduled appointments.
ATM has revealed the 2016 shortlist for its annual New Frontiers Recovery Awards, with three Asian nations nominated.
The shortlisted destinations - Nepal, the Philippines and Taiwan - have each been recognised for dealing with the dual impact of significant human and economic losses in the last 12 months due to devastating natural catastrophes, their effect on local tourism and their remarkable efforts to recover.
The New Frontiers Recovery Award was created in 2005 to recognise outstanding contributions to tourism development in the face of overwhelming adversity, supporting the chosen destination by donating exhibition space at the event to the value of US$10,000.
This year’s nominees have all had to repair, rebuild and recover, with efforts ongoing in some destinations. An earthquake struck Taiwan in February 2016, Nepal suffered a devastating earthquake in April 2015 and the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Koppu in October 2015.