THE OFFICIAL SHOW DAILY 30 April – 3 May 2012


REGIONAL AVIATION FLYING HIGH


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The second day of Arabian Travel Market was punctuated by the announcement that hotel guest numbers in Dubai showed an impressive nine percent year-on-year growth for the fi rst quarter of 2012. This builds on the success of 2011 when the destination closed the year up 10 percent with 9.1 million hotel guests. These fi gures consolidate


26


04 Welcome STEPHANIE BLEAKLEY


06 EXHIBITOR NEWS


18 ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET IN PICTURES


21 SEMINAR PROGRAMME


22 Interview JURGEN BAUMHOFF


24 Special report AVIATION


26 NIGHT RECEPTION


28 Special report TECHNOLOGY


29 Special report SOCIAL MEDIA


30 DESTINATION PROFILES 34 SHOW FLOOR PERSPECTIVE


an excellent year so far for the UAE, with Abu Dhabi having posted its fi rst quarter results in the run-up to the show, highlighting an impressive 17 percent increase year-on-year.


The Northern Emirates of the


UAE have also been making substantial tourism in-roads. The Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, marked his fi rst visit to the show yesterday. "Being my fi rst year at


the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, I would like fi rst of all to acknowledge the great achievements which His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,


3 Wednesday 2 May Contents UAE IN THE SPOTLIGHT


has made in developing the iconic emirate of Dubai, forming it to a unique global milestone with its various highlights, from Emirates Airline to the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa,” said HH Sheikh Saud. “I would also like to


congratulate the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) on its fi rst anniversary of operation and the great accomplishments the authority has made in its fi rst year in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah,” he added.


Continued on page 4


His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (pictured centre), with Khalid A. Bin Sulayem, Director General of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (pictured right) and Victor Louis, Chief Operating Offi cer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (pictured second from left)


NEW FRONTIERS AWARD 2012 RECOGNISES JAPAN'S RESILIENCE


Recognising the country’s efforts to rebuild the national economy and revive tourism demand in the wake of devastation following last year’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has presented the New Frontiers Award 2012 to Japan. Last year’s recipient Chile


presented the award to Daisuke Matsunaga, Consul-General, Japanese Embassy in Dubai, alongside Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions. “The Japanese government


and its people have displayed extraordinary resilience in the face of such extreme adversity and have made signifi cant strides in getting the country’s economy back on track. The sheer determination and concerted efforts of Japan’s people in pushing ahead with such a monumental task is truly inspiring,” remarked Walsh.


On March 10, 2011, the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck the northeastern coast of the country with cataclysmic force, sending waves of up to 40.5 metres 10 kilometres inland across 18 prefectures, causing massive loss of life, the destruction of over 125,000 homes and businesses and three nuclear reactor meltdowns. In addition to signifi cant


international aid, Japan’s government has allocated US$167 billion over fi ve years as part of a phased recovery plan. While tourism numbers dipped by at least 50 percent in 2011, the government has also embarked on an ambitious plan to triple the number of international tourists by 2016 with a strong focus on increasing inbound visitor business from China.


Continued on page 4


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OMAN'S NATURAL ATTRACTION


VISIT US AT


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