Arabian Travel Market opens in Dubai:

Lanka targets 90,000 tourists from Gulf region in 2013

The 20th anniversary edition of Asia’s biggest travel and tourism industry event opened yesterday on a positive note, with the Arabian Travel Market featuring over 2,500 exhibitors from 87 countries at the the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre. Sri Lanka fielded the largest ever contingent of 53 companies for the four-day ATM, with a view to increase Gulf arrivals.

The Gulf market is a key to Lankan tourism, since they are high spenders and mostly come to Sri Lanka during the peak season.

“One of the advantages of the Gulf market was that there are many foreign expatriates based in the Gulf who tour Sri Lanka,” said Sampath Alahakoon, Assistant Director, Marketing/ Sports and Diaspora, Sri Lanka Tourism.

He said that in January 2012, there were 3,874 arrivals from the Gulf and this January too saw a 5.2% increase.

The Saudi Arabian market saw a big growth accounting to 20% arrivals in January. “Our target is to attract 90, 000 arrivals from the Gulf this year, which was at 65,000,” last year, he said.

The Sri Lankan stand which depicted an elephant family amidst a nature and wildlife, came into praise from both participants and visitors.

Deputy Director, G. Malawiarachchi who designed the set, said that it was build at a low cost using fiber glass but was very effective.

“We must also thank Cosmic Interior Design of UAE for their assistance as well,” he said.

Opening yesterday’s event was Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Media Inc, along with Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, CEO and Chairman of Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman of The Emirates Group and Dubai World.

Event organizers, Reed Travel Exhibitions, were looking to increase visitor numbers on 2012’s 17,000 figure, with over 22,000 square meters of floor space.