Arab travel market 2024 to witness rise in Chinese participation

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) from May 6 to 9, will welcome twice as many Chinese exhibitors and travel professionals, compared to its 2019 show.

According to an investigation by Oxford EconomicsOutbound travel from China is estimated to almost double this year, compared to 2023, and will only be 22 percent below its pre-pandemic peak numbers of 155 million tourists in 2019, who spent more than $250 billion. dollars abroad.

Full recovery is expected to materialize in 2025, with the Middle East being the first region in the world to recover its Chinese inbound market.

Danielle Curtis, ME Exhibition Director at Arabian Travel Market, signaled expectations of a significant rebound in Chinese outbound tourism, with analysts predicting a possible doubling of visitor numbers in 2024 compared to the previous year. Major Middle East destinations, especially favored by luxury travel, are expected to recover faster than elsewhere internationally. This optimism is supported by recent Chinese New Year 2024 spending data, which indicates a 7 percent increase in overseas transactions compared to 2019. Notable Middle East destinations for Chinese travelers include Dubai, AlUla de Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, and only Dubai have welcomed it. More than one million Chinese visitors in 2019.

Chinese participation in ATM 2024 It is expected to more than double compared to ATM 2019, with new exhibitors including private sector companies such as Heytrip International, Jiangsu Intelligence Equipment Co, Flightroutes24 Travel Company Ltd, Feeyo Technology and an early representation of destinations from the Tourism Bureau of the Government of Macau, the Chinese Cultural Center in the United Arab Emirates and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

In line with the theme of this year’s show. ‘Boosting innovation: transforming travel through entrepreneurship’, Other highlights of the 31st edition of ATM include sessions focused on entrepreneurship, as well as sessions dedicated to other key source markets, such as India and the Americas. In addition to showcasing a variety of event features based on the theme, informative content will be delivered on the global stage and the new future stage in ATM 2024led by respected keynote speakers and industry thought leaders.

News source: Emirates News Agency