exhibitions: GIBTM reports: More event planners eyeing Mideast
More event planners eyeing Mideast
A strong tourism industry and the Middle East’s growing importance in the global economy has established the region as a leading meetings and events destination, according to GIBTM’s exhibition manager.
Lloyd Kenyon said exhibitions like GIBTM, which is expected to attract more than 2000 professionals, 300 hosted buyers and at least 250 exhibiting companies, had helped increase the region’s meetings industry profile.
“The abundance of venues in the region is helping to grow the sector,” he said. “More significantly, the importance of the region within the global economy will surely drive meetings and events.”
The fifth annual GIBTM takes place at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi from 28-30 March, 2011.
“The meetings industry in the Gulf has embraced and recognised the enormous potential in attracting meetings and events to the region,” Kenyon said. “And, the success and growth of GIBTM illustrates there is a hunger and a desire for the meetings sector to develop at a rapid pace in the region.”
Business tourism accounts for 70 percent of Abu Dhabi’s hotel guests, with 10 percent of that number visiting the UAE capital for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
Frequent flight connections and the region’s close proximity to some two billion people within a four-hour flight radius have helped make the Middle East a popular meetings destination.
The emergence of several industries, such as energy, financial and pharmaceutical, has also contributed to an increase in demand for conferences and exhibitions in the Middle East.
Exhibitors already confirmed for GIBTM include Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Government of Dubai, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Oman Ministry of Tourism.
Representatives from convention bureaus, destination management companies, hotel groups and specialist services providers from the Gulf, Asia, Europe and Africa are also expected to attend.
