The upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 in Dubai, UAE has seen a 20% increase in the number of exhibitors from India, while outbound travel from the country is expected to reach 27 million by 2024.
ATM will host its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) from May 1-14
Indian nationals spent a record $10 billion on overseas travel in the first nine months of 2022, an increase of almost 43% compared to pre-pandemic figures, according to data recently released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
In addition, Indian business consultant Nangia Anderson LLP, in conjunction with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), estimates that there are more than 27 million outbound trips each year, with a combined value of more than $42 billion. by 2024. This positions India to become one of the most important outbound tourism markets in the world and supports the growth of tourism in the Middle East following the challenges of the global pandemic.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market ME, said: “The expected number of outbound tourists from India in the next few years means it will be of serious concern in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The event offers visitors the opportunity to explore the Indian tourism industry through various show features, including the India Summit, which will provide a deeper understanding of this key market.”
Many Indians frequently travel to the GCC region for pleasure, business or both, taking advantage of the close proximity, just a three-hour flight from Mumbai to Dubai. These trends are reflected in the number of direct flights between India and the region, with Emirates alone flying more than 170 weekly flights to nine Indian cities – Gulf Air, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Oman Air also There are regular flights to Indian destinations.
Flights from India to the Gulf region are also far less expensive than other destinations due to the shorter distances, further underscoring the convenience and popularity of traveling for leisure or business. Furthermore, there are currently 8.5 million Indian nationals working in the GCC, implying that there is already a considerable level of familiarity between the two regions.
Last year’s Arabian Travel Fair (ATM) hosted several prominent exhibitors from India, including Goa Tourism and Uttar Pradesh Tourism. This year’s event is no exception, with new Indian exhibitors already confirmed such as One Above Destination Management Services (DMC), Adventure Overland and Visaero Visa.
ATM 2023 will explore the future of sustainable tourism with the theme “Towards Net Zero Emissions”. With the official launch of Net Zero Journeys, the conference program will explore how innovative sustainable travel trends may evolve. It will enable delegates to identify growth strategies for key verticals, while providing a platform for regional experts to explore a sustainable future ahead of COP28, which will take place in Dubai Expo City in November 2023.
The conference will also, for the first time, include a sustainability category in its annual exhibitor awards. Exhibiting organizations will be recognized based on how much they consider the environmental impact of their booth and their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.
ATM 2023 is co-hosted with Dubai World Trade Center with strategic partners including Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as Destination Partner, Emirates as Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais traveling as an official DMC partner. – trade arab news agency