The 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) officially opened on 14 September at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together more than 2,800 exhibitors from 150 countries. The show’s mood is markedly optimistic as the Middle East travel sector looks to shake off seven months of regional instability that had stalled forward bookings. National carriers Emirates and Etihad made high-profile appearances, teasing product launches and network announcements slated for later in the week. Hoteliers and destination-management companies told Gulf News they expect the fair to crystallise pent-up demand, especially now that key source markets in Europe and South Asia are lifting travel advisories. Panels under the ‘Travel 2040’ theme are focusing on artificial intelligence in itinerary planning, resilient supply-chains for tour operators and the role of smart-mobility infrastructure—topics with direct implications for corporate travel programmes centered on the UAE. Several sessions are dedicated to the UAE’s five-year multiple-entry visa and Dubai’s new ‘Click and Travel’ mobile passport control, signalling how facilitation tools are becoming competitive differentiators for host countries. For mobility professionals, ATM doubles as a one-stop shop: government agencies such as GDRFA and ICP are on site explaining recent visa-rule tweaks, while relocation providers court HR teams with bundled housing-and-schooling packages. With the show running until 17 September, early footfall suggests that Dubai’s events ecosystem remains a magnet for global business travel—a positive signal for companies planning regional conferences or project kick-offs in Q4.
Source: Gulf News
