ATM Dubai: US$7 billion forecast for UAE tourism sector
Experts outline a promising future for the GCC hospitality sector as hospitality leaders gather in Dubai
Dubai: UAE’s tourism sector is forecasted to exceed US$ 7 billion by 2026 with massive growth in the hospitality industry.
According to Deloitte, Dubai is leading the regional hospitality markets with a strong outlook for 2024. The city now offers more hotel rooms than major capitals such as London, New York City, and Bangkok, and as of this month, Dubai has a hotel room capacity of over 150,000.
Recent data from global research companies indicates a bright future for the GCC hospitality industry, with insights from Deloitte and STR demonstrating sustained growth as tourism continues to be a key priority for regional governments.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), a premier global event in travel and tourism, will serve as a pivotal gathering for hospitality stakeholders when it takes place from 6 to 9 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
17.15 million overnight visitors
Data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) shows that the city welcomed 17.15 million overnight visitors during 2023, with the average length of stay also increasing. According to Deloitte, occupancy peaked at 88% in February.
Elsewhere in the region, STR figures show that Riyadh is leading the way in terms of hotel supply growth, offering an additional 28,465 rooms, a 134% increase. Meanwhile, Doha has doubled its hotel inventory over the past decade, with a current supply of 39,968 rooms.
Evolving hospitality landscape
“As the hospitality landscape in the GCC region continues to evolve, the data paints a compelling picture of growth and opportunity. ATM 2024 will feature a wide range of hospitality brands from around the world, and we are pleased to report that there has been a 21% increase in exhibition space dedicated to hotel brands this year, demonstrating strong interest and demand,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market.
Curtis added: “IHG Resorts is the official hotel partner for ATM 2024, and this year’s edition is set to welcome back some of the most respected brands in the hospitality industry, including Four Seasons Hotels, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, and the Shangri-La Group. It’s worth noting that the number of hospitality brands showcased at ATM has increased by 12% with a good selection of well-known international and regional brands. With so many world-class brands in attendance across all categories of luxury, upper-midscale, and midscale, ATM 2024 promises an enriching experience for all attending.”
New hotels
Several new European hotel brands, including Ethno Belek in Turkey and Buff Medical Resort in Germany, will exhibit at ATM for the first time. European Voyages, which specializes in tours, transfers, and private jets, will also mark its debut appearance. There has been a notable surge in exhibitor participation from Italy and Turkey, reflecting a growing interest from these regions in reaching the lucrative Middle East tourism market.
Latest trends
Attendees at ATM 2024 will learn the latest trends from hospitality industry leaders during a series of summits and panel discussions throughout the week. These include the ‘‘Frameworks for Tourism Investment’ session, which will mark the beginning of the highly-anticipated ATM Market Insights Summit.
The ‘Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality in the Middle East’ session will officially open ATM’s new ‘Future Stage’, formerly the Travel Tech Stage.
Key updates
Providing key updates on the hospitality industry, upcoming trends, and current challenges facing the sector, the session will feature senior regional representatives from IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriot International, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC and Banyan Tree Dubai along with hospitality experts from Mastercard and Silkhaus.
“As the Middle East continues its impressive strides forward in the global tourism landscape, IHG Hotels & Resorts is honored and proud to be a strategic partner to multiple governments, tourism investors, industry stakeholders, and our customers across the region. As the official Hotel Partner of the Arabian Travel Market 2024, we look forward to engaging with industry leaders, peers, and colleagues.
Why ATM
ATM remains an unrivaled platform for dialogue, debate, networking, and knowledge-sharing as the regional industry’s legacy travel trade event,” said Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG.
Programmes
The 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will focus on the theme: Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship. This year’s event will feature a wide portfolio of exhibitors from the fields of aviation, accommodation, hospitality, attractions, technology, and more, ATM 2024 will explore how innovators in the travel and tourism space are working to attract greater levels of funding to further increase the sector’s overall contribution to global GDP.
Partners
Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024’s strategic partners include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates, Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner, Al Rais Travel, Official DMC Partner. STA is the Global Travel Partner for ATM 2024.