The Maldives is preparing to participate in this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), with 165 representatives from 74 Maldivian companies set to attend the four-day tourism fair in Dubai.
ATM is the largest tourism fair held in the Middle East and brings together tourism industry stakeholders from around the world to strengthen business relations.
The fair is particularly important to the Maldives’ tourism industry, as many tourists travelling to the country from Europe use Middle Eastern airlines. More than 80,000 tourists from the Middle East also visited the Maldives last year.
The Maldives gives particular priority to participating in ATM each year. This year’s fair will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 14 to 17 of this month, with Visit Maldives, VMC, currently making final preparations for the event.
Speaking to PSM News, Visit Maldives Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Abdulla Yasir said the corporation has made extensive preparations for this year’s fair.
Managing Director Yasir noted that tourist arrivals to the Maldives from the Middle East have declined due to the situation affecting the region. He said ATM provides an opportunity to promote the Maldives internationally and further develop the tourism industry.
“This is a period in which tourism has declined slightly due to the situation affecting the Middle East. We hope that this fair will help tourism expand further,” VMC Managing Director said.
Yasir said final preparations are under way, including travel arrangements for the Maldivian delegation and work on the Maldives stand.
“We are now making the final preparations for the fair. Arrangements are under way for the Maldivian delegation travelling to the fair, as well as arrangements to send the necessary materials to the fair,” he said.
Visit Maldives gives particular attention to the design of the Maldives stand at tourism fairs to attract the interest and attention of visitors. This year’s ATM stand will focus on the Maldives’ underwater environment.
The Maldives will have a 517-square-metre stand spanning two floors. Visit Maldives said the stand has been designed to present the Maldivian marine environment and marine life to visitors.
The stand will feature 3D illustrations of manta rays, corals and fish, with the underwater environment and marine life represented throughout its design.
One of the main objectives of ATM is to provide opportunities for tourism industry stakeholders to pursue mutually beneficial joint ventures. Several meetings will take place during the four-day event, while several agreements are scheduled to be signed.
Visit Maldives said agreements are scheduled to be signed with Qatar Airways, Emirates and Dnata, the largest tour operator in the Middle East, during this year’s fair.