ATM 2024

ATM 2024 to explore the full spectrum of travel and tourism, with the global market value projected to pass $1 trillion over the next four years

Arabian Travel Market 2024 will continue to go beyond leisure, highlighting how
business, luxury and MICE travel are impacting destinations, hotels and airlines
· The 31 st edition of ATM will explore how travel and tourism are driving economic
growth and sustainable development across the Middle East and beyond
· From 6-9 May 2024, the global travel and tourism community will meet at DWTC
to share knowledge and identify opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 24 October 2023: Attendees from around the world will
explore opportunities spanning the full spectrum of travel and tourism – including
leisure, business, luxury and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE)
– at the 31 st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai
World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the UAE from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024.
Revenue in the global travel and tourism market is projected to reach $854.7 billion this
year, according to research conducted by Statista. The sector is expected to grow at a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.42 per cent during the period 2023-27,
passing the trillion-dollar mark within the next four years.
Allied Market Research valued the global business travel market at $689.7 billion in
2021, predicting that the segment would grow to $2.1 trillion by 2031. The global luxury
travel market, meanwhile, is on course to pass $440 billion by the end of this decade,
according to research from Coherent Market Insights. The MICE segment also
continues to make valuable contributions in GCC countries such as the UAE, where
DWTC’s most recent Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) Annual Report estimated that
the venue’s total economic output – across 63 large-scale events – exceeded $3.5
billion in 2022.

In line with ATM 2024’s theme of ‘Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’,
attendees will consider how the segments of leisure, business, luxury and MICE are
driving economic growth and sustainable development across destinations, hospitality
and aviation, creating fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors from across
the Middle East and beyond.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Holidaymakers
represent a crucial focus for the Middle East’s travel community, but leisure is only one
component of a much bigger picture. Business, luxury and MICE travel are also making
significant contributions to economic growth and sustainable development, with Statista
predicting a global market volume of more than $1 trillion by 2027.
“It is therefore no surprise that the travel and tourism sector is creating unprecedented
opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, thousands of whom will showcase their
innovations, exchange ideas and forge new partnerships at ATM 2024,” she added.
The travel and tourism sector is on course to contribute $49.18 billion to the UAE
economy alone in 2023, according to figures released by the World Travel and Tourism
Council (WTTC). This figure is predicted to reach $64.12 billion by 2033, accounting for
an impressive 10.2 per cent of the nation’s GDP.
As the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry continues to mature, it is expected to
create new jobs and income for millions of people from across the globe. The UAE
Government, for instance, estimates that the country’s travel and tourism market will
support 770,000 jobs by 2027. At the same time, the sector is expected to generate
ever-increasing revenues for regional economies – Gulf travellers spending
approximately 6.5 times more than tourists from other parts of the world, according to
the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO).
Sustainable development will represent another key focus at ATM 2024 as the show
builds on the net-zero commitments outlined during its milestone 30 th edition. Dubai’s
Department for Economy and Tourism (DET), ATM’s Destination Partner, will showcase
its ongoing efforts to protect the environment and secure a greener and more
sustainable future for the emirate. Pioneering initiatives such as Dubai Sustainable
Tourism, Dubai Can and Dubai Carbon Calculator – coupled with the city’s hosting of
COP28 later this year – will provide the ideal backdrop for ATM attendees looking to
identify opportunities related to responsible tourism in the UAE and the wider Middle
East.
Thanks to the region’s business-friendly approach to policymaking, tax-free salaries and
ongoing visa reforms, GCC countries accounted for five of the top 10 global destinations
where expatriates find it easiest to settle, according to a report from InterNations. In Q1
2023, a Magnitt report revealed that Saudi Arabia led the region in venture capital

investment for startups, while the UAE topped the list in terms of number of exits. As
such, the upcoming edition of ATM will offer the perfect forum for speakers, panellists
and audience members to explore opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors
operating in the Middle East’s travel and tourism space.
Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024’s strategic partners
include the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates,
Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner; and Al Rais Travel,
Official DMC Partner.
The latest ATM news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-
press-releases/.
To register your interest in attending ATM 2024 or to submit a stand enquiry, visit
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/enquire.html.