Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, has officially inaugurated the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). This year’s edition is the largest to date, bringing together 2,300 exhibitors from 165 countries and welcoming around 41,000 attendees. The event will focus on empowering innovation to transform global travel through entrepreneurship.
A Record-Breaking Edition
Ahmed bin Saeed opens Arabian Travel Market 2024.
In its largest edition since its inception in 1994, ATM 2024 boasts a remarkable 26% growth in exhibitor participation, underlining its status as the leading global travel and tourism event. From its humble beginnings with just 300 exhibitors and 7,000 trade visitors, ATM has evolved into a globally recognized platform encompassing all travel sectors. The event will feature visionary entrepreneurs and industry leaders in aviation, hospitality, and public attractions, highlighting their transformative role in shaping the future of travel.
A Transformative Theme: Empowering Innovation
This year’s theme, “Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship,” will be the cornerstone of the four-day conference agenda. The event will host 200 speakers across over 50 sessions, highlighting trends in travel technology, future destinations, sustainability, luxury travel, and entrepreneurship.
The Global Stage will feature summits focusing on emerging markets, entrepreneurship, and luxury travel. At the same time, the new Future Stage will delve deep into the innovative trends revolutionizing the industry. Topics include artificial intelligence, travel tech, and future travel forecasts.
A Celebration of Thought Leadership
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, inaugurated the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024.
Key highlights on the opening day included the Global Stage Welcome speech, “The Gateway to Global Insights,” by His Excellency Issam Abdulrahim Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The Ministerial Debate discussed the potential of streamlining tourism within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Market Insights Summit also set the tone for in-depth discussions throughout the week, emphasizing entrepreneurship, luxury travel, and sustainability.
Day Two will focus on demystifying the most impactful travel tech trends. The session “Beyond the Hype: Demystifying 2024 Travel Tech Trends” will unravel emerging opportunities in travel technology. Meanwhile, the Global Stage will unite aviation experts from IATA, Riyadh Air, AviationXLab, and Cirium to discuss how technology disrupts aviation. In a special session on “Navigating the Future of Air Travel,” Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, will share invaluable insights on the future of air travel.
Travel Tech and Entrepreneurship Summit
Travel Tech is parallel to the leading conference, the technology exhibition at ATM 2024. It will showcase the latest innovations in the travel and hospitality sector. On May 7, the Entrepreneurship Summit will explore how nurturing travel and tourism entrepreneurship can propel economic growth and how global disruptions catalyse innovation.
Arabian Travel Week: A Hub for Global Collaboration
ATM 2024 is part of Arabian Travel Week, a ten-day festival of travel and tourism events. In addition to ATM, the week includes various engaging events, such as the ATM Start-up competition, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and Buyer Networking.
Strategic Partnerships
ATM 2024 is in partnership with DWTC and is backed by strategic partners like Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Emirates, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Al Rais Travel. These partnerships reflect a collective commitment to advancing global travel and tourism.
Conclusion
As ATM 2024 grows, it remains an unparalleled hub for tourism professionals worldwide, empowering them to explore new possibilities and redefine travel through innovation. With its focus on entrepreneurship and emerging trends, this year’s event will undoubtedly influence the industry’s direction, affirming Dubai’s pivotal role as a global destination that shapes the future of travel.
Written by: Madhura Katti
