Dubai, United Arab Emirates, At the 30th Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, Saudi Arabia, the real Arabia, celebrated its greatest and most successful presence at a global trade event to date.
The Saudi exhibit, which welcomed more than 40,000 people over the course of four days to experience the sights, scents, and sounds of the world's fastest-growing tourism destination, dominated this year's show. It was a hotspot of inked deals, business meetings, and distinctive cultural activations.
Saudi Arabia is boosting the travel and tourism industries on a regional and international scale. With 67 partners, Saudi Arabia showcased more than 500 bookable travel packages and experiences at ATM. The heroes of the event were the partners on stand, who brought to life the culture and natural beauty of the entire nation while showcasing the destination's uniqueness.
The exhibit was a top-notch sensory journey through Arabia, showcasing the region's rich culture and heritage. It included a variety of interactive, immersive experiences, such as virtual reality headsets of Saudi Arabia's religious offerings in Makkah and Madinah, live Arabic calligraphy, and traditional dances from various regions of the nation.
The occasion was a celebration of teamwork, collaboration, and devotion, as well as a reflection of the nation's incredible transformational journey.
His Highness paid a visit. The Saudi stand was a hive of commercial activity, exceeding expectations by more than 140% with valued partners spanning tour operators, travel agencies, OTAs, and airlines, according to Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
ODIGEO, Visa, Sabre Travel, Careem, Almosafer, Travelport, and FTI were among the notable international and regional partners with whom MoUs totaling 53 were signed at the Saudi booth. The relationships emphasized long-term strategic contributions, the formation of ambassadors, the development of experiences and DMCs, data exchange and analytics, tech connections, and contributions beyond commitment to visits.
With initiatives like The Red Sea Project, the most ambitious sustainable luxury tourism development in the world; Diriyah, the 300-year-old mud city and birthplace of Saudi Arabia; and Sindalah Island, NEOM's unrivaled island destination, the destination is achieving its tourism goals. The nation also boasts a varied landscape that is accessible all year long, including the UNESCO-listed oasis of Al-Ahsa and the pristine coral reefs along Saudi Arabia's 1,700 km of Red Sea coastline, where divers and cruise ships can enjoy them and where the first of 16 luxury hotels will open later this year. Saudi Arabia also has the cool, lush Asir highlands, where inhabitants go on summer vacations.
CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Fahd Hamidaddin, said:
Saudi Arabia returned to ATM this year, one of the major trade shows for the travel industry, to convey the tale of its development and expansion, to motivate and educate the sector, and to reaffirm the country's status as the region's tourism powerhouse.
"We saw unprecedented success at ATM, with a record number of partners joining us on the stand, more bookable experiences and packages showcased, targets exceeded in terms of commercial engagements, and the biggest ever commitment to partners through MoU signings and deals."
"Our success is reliant on the success of our partners, and we keep developing consumer and trade experiences to promote commerce and expansion. It is our responsibility to support and empower our partners so they can invest in a shared future since Saudi Arabia offers a wealth of untapped opportunity and exceptional growth.
"Saudi is witnessing growth like no other, exceeding both Umrah and visit numbers and inbound in the first quarter of this year. With a pipeline of new openings and experiences and a dynamic event and entertainment line-up, this is an opportunity not to be missed."
The Saudi Tourism Authority created Nusuk, an integrated digital platform to promote seamless Umrah travel, in September of last year. For its first ATM participation, Nusuk displayed an impressive presence, with more than 20 partners on stand.
The STA CEO participated in a TED-style conversation on the stand with partners Ross Veitch, CEO and Co-Founder, Wego, and David Loiseau, CEO, Meeting Point International, to talk about how Saudi Arabia represents the biggest opportunity for business in tourism and the collaborative environment that is facilitating its success.
Hamiddadin was joined in a panel discussion titled "The Future of Travel in the GCC" by H.E. Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Bahrain; H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary, Government of the UAE; and His Excellency, Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrooqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, to highlight important opportunities for the region, including cooperation, innovation, and maintaining authenticity to traditional values. The panelists talked about how GCC nations might cooperate on issues like infrastructure and visas so that everyone may profit from the region's booming tourism industry.
More than USD1 trillion in real estate and infrastructure projects are either under construction or in the pipeline in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating the industry's continued confidence in the country's tourist growth.
The participation of the ATM this year took place at the same time that Lionel Messi, a legendary figure in world football, traveled to Saudi Arabia with his family for an eventful two days in Riyadh.
Visit the following website to learn more about STA's involvement at this year's Arabian Travel Market and the variety of activities Saudi Arabia has to offer visitors:
ATM 2023: Travel to Saudi Arabia