33rd Arabian Travel Market kicks off

The 33rd Arabian Travel Market (ATM) opened on September 14 in Dubai.

Attracting over 2,800 exhibitors, this year's show is expected to welcome more than 55,000 visitors.

A key focus at this year's ATM is bringing tourists back to the Middle East following recent geopolitical disruptions.

During a ministerial panel, Fatima bint Jahar Al Sairafi, Bahrain Minister of Tourism, said a joint Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) recovery plan had been approved, because when the regional disruption happened, travelers and tourists hadn't looked at the GCC countries independently, but as a bloc, and that was where the strength was.

On a local level, Ajman, the UAE's smallest emirate, is actively opening up new avenues.

As Khadija Mohammed Turki, a consultant with the Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture & Media said, the non-oil emirate is boosting what it has to offer, internationally and within the emirates, identifying new markets.

Besides the strong push to welcome global travelers back to the Middle East at this year's Arabian Travel Market, Chinese exhibitors are stepping in with tailored solutions to meet the growing demand from Middle-Eastern tourists.

This year, 28 Chinese enterprises from eight major destinations joined the delegation, marking a record participation for China at the show.

The China Pavilion Chief, said organizing 28 companies to participate was an important step that reflected the strong confidence in deepening China-Arab tourism cooperation.

Through this event, it is hoped to build more connections between travel enterprises on both sides, while introducing China's latest entry facilitation policies to the public, travelers, and industry professionals across the Arab world.

On the exhibition floor, Chinese delegates introduced customized itineraries for Middle Eastern clients, showcasing a vibrant image of China's inbound tourism.

A Middle-Eastern travel insider told CGTN that since China removed visa restrictions for many GCC countries, demand in the region for "China Travel" had increased.

As the region's premier travel trade show, the four-day event runs through September 17.