International policymakers and industry leaders are preparing to gather in the United Arab Emirates for the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, where they will examine how entrepreneurship and innovation are reshaping the global tourism industry. The 31st edition of the exhibition will take place at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) from Monday, May 6 to Thursday, May 9.
More than 200 speakers will participate in more than 50 sessions over the course of the four-day event. Experts from around the world will participate in ATM's Global Stage and Future Stage (formerly Travel Tech Stage) to address some of the sector's most pressing issues, including the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), the future of
aviation , how to cope stands out in the luxury, retail tourism and sustainable travel segment.
As the Middle East's leading exhibition for inbound and outbound travel and tourism professionals, ATM 2024 will build on last year's record-breaking 30th edition with its theme: "Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Spirit business".
Exhibitors and attendees will have the opportunity to explore new market opportunities, the benefits of collaboration and connectivity, how to attract investment and more.
Danielle Curtis, ME Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “The future of the global travel industry will be shaped by innovators and entrepreneurs, which is why we are so excited to highlight the latest insights and technologies at ATM 2024.
From startups to established brands, this year’s exhibition will showcase new ideas on how the sector can improve customer experiences, drive efficiencies and generate positive economic impacts across the Middle East and beyond.”
Exhibitor participation is expected to be 23% higher than last year, making ATM 2024 the largest edition in the history of the event. Growth is expected across all trade show verticals, including year-over-year regional increases for the Middle East (up 19%), Europe (up 32%), Asia (up 20%) and Africa (up 28%). The show's sold-out Travel Tech space will be 56% larger on the show floor, and industry products will demonstrate 33% year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, hotel participation is projected to be 21% higher than last year.
This year's edition will once again allow attendees to go beyond traditional leisure travel by exploring opportunities related to luxury, business and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). ATM 2024 will feature a variety of discussions on these topics, including sessions dedicated to premium offerings, healthcare meetings, global business travel, sustainable procurement, sporting events and more.
ATM 2024 will host a selection of regional and international policymakers, including His Excellency Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Trade and Marketing (DCTCM), His Excellency Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Oman Tourism; Teodora Marinska, Head of Public Affairs, European Travel Commission; Basmah Al-Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); and Lindsay Bowman Fraser, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE), Sports and Esports Leader, Qatar Tourism.
ATM 2024 speakers will explore a number of emerging and established market segments, such as experiential, accessible and multi-generational travel, highlighting opportunities for growth, transformation and disruption. Delegates will also consider the implications of advances in fields such as AI and how these technologies are
impacting the Middle East travel industry.
"With less than a month until the international travel community converges on Dubai, we look forward to welcoming our largest group of exhibitors and guest speakers," added Curtis. "For more than 30 years, ATM has provided a forum where participants can share ideas, overcome challenges and seize opportunities,
and the 2024 edition will be no exception."
Building on ATM 2023's 'Working towards Net Zero' theme, environmentally responsible travel will represent another key focus this year. Taking into account the UAE Year of Sustainability and the most recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which took place in Dubai last year, ATM 2024 will explore how innovation can be harnessed to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), creating a greener travel and tourism sector for future generations.
Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 strategic partners include Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as destination partner, Emirates as official airline, IHG Hotels & Resorts as official hotel partner and Al Rais Travel as an official partner of DMC.