KERALAMONITOR COM

ndonesian Beauties promoting tourism - A group of dancers posing for photograph. Picture by V M Sathish Click

New Indian route for SriLankan Airlines

Carrier also announces plans to extend east and west in 2004

 

Dubai, May 2004 : SriLankan Airlines will begin flights to Calicut, the historical city in southwestern India, from July 1, becoming the first non-Indian airline to operate regular services to Calicut’s International Airport. Calicut will be SriLankan’s tenth destination in India and will be serviced by four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Full Report

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP LANDS TOP HOTEL AWARD

Business travellers also name InterContinental hotels in Beirut, Riyadh, Jeddah top choice for business in the Middle East

Caption: Chris Moloney (2nd from left), chief operating officer and his team, receive their awards for Best Hotel Group in the Middle East at the Business Traveller Awards.

Dubai, 06 May, 2004: Business travellers have named InterContinental Hotels Group as their first choice when travelling in the Middle East.The hotel group received the award for Best Hotel Group in the Middle East at yesterday’s Business Traveller Middle East Awards. In addition to the main award, the InterContinental Phoencia in Beirut won the best business hotel in the Middle East as well as a second award as best business hotel in Lebanon.

Riyadh and Jeddah were also singled out as the best business hotels in their local markets by readers of the magazine. The awards were presented by Celebrity chefs Keith Floyd and Jean- Christophe Novelli, during the magazine’s third annual awards ceremony at the Mina A’Salaam in Dubai. Joining 300 guests drawn from all corners of the regional travel industry was His Excellency Hamad Abdal Rahman Al Madfa, the Minster of Health, who was representing the charity Vision 2020, the nominated charity of the event.

The InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut and the InterContinental Riyadh had also been honoured in last year’s awards, and they were joined this time by the InterContinental Jeddah. “These awards are very significant in that they are decided by the individual votes of business travellers, who are extremely demanding,” said Chris Moloney, chief operating officer, InterContinental Hotels Group, Middle East and Africa.“It’s particularly satisfying to receive this kind of recognition after the steps we have been making to introduce new hotels from all our brands across the region providing business travellers with accommodation options wherever they might be doing business in the region. With 72 hotels currently in operation and more on the way over the coming months we offer the most hotels and the widest range of accommodation options in this part of the world.”

SOLIDARITY APPOINTS GENERAL MANAGER

DUBAI - Solidarity, one of the Middle East ’s leading Islamic Insurance and Assurance companies, has appointed Rob King to its executive management team as General Manager, Assurance & Family Takaful.Solidarity, which is designed to operate in full accordance with the guiding principles of Islamic Shari’ah, has been set up in direct response to the growing demand for Takaful Insurance products around the world.

Rob King will manage all aspects of the business with the core objective of providing a comprehensive range of Takaful products primed to the highest levels of service and suitability for varying customers needs whilst generating satisfactory returns for policyholders, shareholders and employees.

Rob King has over 23 years experience in the insurance sector. During his career, he has been actively involved in the re-engineering of blue chip businesses and has achieved great success in the international market place with his innovative and visionary leadership style.“With the expanding scope of this unique Islamic system of insurance and assurance, Solidarity is providing solutions to suit specific client’s needs for important future events such as education and marriage,” he commented. “With over US$100 million in capital assets, we are poised to become the leading insurance company in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the largest Islamic insurance company in the world.”

King’s in-depth understanding, not only in insurance, but also in the Middle East , will add another dimension to the company’s team of professionals. His experience includes a significant period based in the UAE, where he gained extensive knowledge of the region and its business customs. Rob King is a Fellow of the Institute of Sales & Marketing Management, the Institute of Management , the Institute of Professional Sales and is a Member of the Life Association by diploma.In his leisure time, Mr. King enjoys spending time with his family, keeping and breeding tropical fish, playing golf with his three sons and is an avid reader of historical autobiographies. (KM Bureau)

Job Vacancy in Saudi for Doctors, Nurses and Paramedical Staff

Thiruvananthapuram May 5: Applications are invited for the posts of doctors, nurses and technicians from among muslims in the Mecca-region Health Ministry of the government of Saudi Arabia. The interview for the posts will be conducted on May 30 th in Bangalore. Resident Gynecologist, Resident Ophthalmologist, Resident I.C.C.U/I.C.U, Resident Emergency Head Nurse, Assistant Head Nurse, Nursing Teacher, Nursing-in-charge, Staff Nurse, Assistant Nurse, Anesthesia Technician, Operation Theatre Technician, Resident Doctors need should have work experience of two years and diploma in the subject they r associated with along with an M.B.B.S degree. Nursing Department Head Nursing Teacher, Nursing-in-charge, Head Nurses and Assistant Head Nurses should have M.Sc/B.Sc Nursing and work-experience of more than three years. Staff Nurse, Assistant Nurse should have nursing diploma and more than two years of work experience. Technicians should have experience of two years or more and two-year diploma. Applicants should apply before May 15 th along with detailed biodata and originals and copies of certificates showing education, career experience, passport and one passport-size photo to the Managing Director, O.D.E.P.C Limited, Ambalathumukku, Vanchiyoor.P.O, Thiruvananthapuram-695035. -Keralamonitor.com

  UAE UNIVERSITY, IBM TEAM TO DESIGN CAR SAFETY DEVICE
     Power Architecture “Smart Box” Reduces Vehicle Accidents, Injuries

PARIS, May 6, 2004 - Noting that one person is injured every two hours in a road accident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a leading university there announced today it will work with IBM on a device aimed at reducing
traffic collisions. United Arab Emirates University, pointing to government traffic studies, said the country has seen a steady climb in the number of auto-related fatalities in the past few years. In addition to those people injured, there is one death on UAE roads approximately every 15 hours.

“These statistics are very alarming, especially when one considers that the UAE has some of the best maintained highways in the world,” said Dr. Ali Alnoaimi, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UAE University. To help solve the problem, the university has signed an agreement with IBM’s Engineering & Technology Services organization to design, develop and test what the school termed a telematics “smart box,” a tool similar to the
so-called black box found in aircraft, which can capture, analyze and deliver relevant data via a wireless network. The University’s College of Information Technology is co-developing the smart box with IBM.

The device, using multiple microprocessors based on Power Architecture, plus a multitude of other sensors, can be attached to the automobile’s carriage to, for example, monitor the vehicle's speed, comparing it to the speed limit of the street. If the car speed is higher than the speed limit allowed by the traffic department, the box would talk to the driver and issue a verbal warning. The device can also be used by police to track gross speeding violations.

“Such a device could be very effective in reducing road accidents,” Dr. Alnoaimi said. Drivers, the government, parents, young people, pedestrians, all would benefit from this safety effort. The box, he added, currently is
in the concept stage; the first one should be ready for a pilot in four or five months. In the pilot, the university’s College of IT will team with IBM, the country’s Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT),
and the local police departments within UAE. The team will define the requirements, test the box in UAE cars, and agree on what to record, what actions to take to expand the area of application, and on what languages to
support since the device “talks” to the drivers. “CERT is pleased to be engaged in this project, since it is so important for our nation and, indeed, for the entire region,” said Dr. Tayeb Kamali, CERT’s chief executive officer and managing director.

The box, which isn’t expected to be much larger than a typical PDA, leverages a number of specific software applications, including Global Positioning System and IBM’s award-winning speech software, ViaVoice,
Bluetooth enablement, and open standards communication interfaces. IBM and the university are also investigating the possibility of enabling this box to function as a doorway to value-added Web-based services for drivers and other third parties, such as insurance companies. The device has an open architecture that makes it the ideal platform for offering future “on demand” services for drivers. IBM is among the first companies to offer leading-edge technology and tools to its clients and enable them to deliver advanced telematics solutions. The company has built a flexible and reliable portfolio of software, hardware, IT services, development platforms, innovative tools and design engineering consulting and services to meet the needs of this emerging segment.

NEW US $430 MILLION SHIPPING JOINT VENTURE SETS SAIL

  Dubai , May 6, 2004 - GEM – Gulf Energy Maritime PJSC – is a new $430m joint venture shipping company, launched today.

The venture, headquartered in Dubai , is 35% owned by Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), 30% by Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), 30% by Oman Oil Company and 5% by Thales, under the UAE Offset Programme. With an initial fleet of two Double Hull Panamax vessels and four new building of Panamax size, being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and to be delivered by 2005, the company is set to fill an expanding global niche for independent clean petroleum transportation, as global shipping laws outlaw existing single hulled ships.

ENOC Group Chief Executive and Board Member Hussain Sultan said: “With the launch of this clean petroleum product tanker company, we are heralding a new era in environmentally friendly, high quality and commercially-driven shipping in the region.” GEM will initially only transport ‘clean petroleum products and easy chemicals’, including naphtha, kerosene, MTBE, methanol, jet fuel, MOGAS, and other hydrocarbons. “Gulf Energy Maritime will be a reliable transporter of clean petroleum products and easy chemicals, operating in an environmentally aware and commercially viable manner,” said Sultan .

“We will certainly enjoy market advantage with our fleet of brand new double-hulled ships, and with additional modern acquisitions we will be among the top independent tanker companies in the world. This is a great window of opportunity for us to assume a leading role in the global shipping lanes,” he added.

Gulf Energy Maritime intends to operate vessels in a portfolio of long, medium term and spot charters to minimise risk while benefiting from spot market spikes. Industry commentators speaking at events such as Intertanko – held for the first time in Dubai this year – predicted that Dubai will assume increasing importance as a global shipping hub, and the four companies behind the enormous joint venture clearly believe this prediction.

“The GEM investment represents a double first for IPIC, marking IPIC’s first participation in the shipping sector, and its first investment in a UAE-based joint venture. IPIC is convinced that the combination of a compelling business model, a strong shareholder group and top quality management will bring enduring success to GEM,” said Mohamed N. Al Khaily, Managing Director, IPIC. GEM will be staffed by industry professionals and an experienced team, with a strong emphasis on recruiting and training GCC national employees. GEM will aggressively target international best practice standards for every phase of its operations. The first Chairman will be Hussain Sultan.

“The joint venture will operate under a prudent financial strategy” explained Sultan. “Similarly, a formal risk management strategy will be adhered to in areas of financial exposure. Our dividend policy will be conservative with priority being given to long term business growth for shareholders. GEM will be managed as a stand-alone entity independent of share holders. “Shareholders however, have access to significant amounts of potential cargoes,” said Sultan. “This, coupled with access to competitive finance and the fact that we will be operating from the tax free low cost environment of the UAE, are competitive edges that Gulf Energy Maritime has when benchmarked against other industry players.” Oman Oil Company welcomed participation in Gulf Energy Maritime.

“This project is in line with the clear objectives OOC has set out to achieve from its international investments. Our interest in this particular venture is strongly linked to the growth in the production of clean projects in the region and the subsequent need for more independent shipping capacity. We are also excited about the opportunity to partner with two well respected GCC companies in ENOC and IPIC as well as with Thales of France,” said Ahmed Al Wahaibi, Deputy CEO, Oman Oil Company (OOC).

Xavier Thuriot, Chairman & CEO of Thales International Middle East, added: “The participation of Thales in this project is fully in line with our long-term commitment to the UAE. Through the country’s offset programme, we are proud to contribute to the creation of a UAE company able to provide competitive solutions at international standards.” The UAE Offsets Group (UOG) has also signalled its commitment to the project. “We support and promote all joint ventures that play a role in developing and diversifying the UAE economy and bring new expertise and technology to the country,” said Hatem Fawzy, Director, Offsets Ventures. GEM is already eyeing future opportunities, with Hussain Sultan hinting that the company may well transport LPG in future. It plans to expand its fleet, growing it with the business as and when opportunities arise. Founder financiers of this world class company are Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates Bank and Mashreqbank. Legal counsel involved are Hadef Al Dhahiri and Associates and Norton Rose.

BUYERS FLY INTO ATM TO STAKE CLAIM TO ISLANDS AT THE WORLD

DUBAI May 6, 2004.Three super rich buyers have flown into Dubai to visit Arabian Travel Market 2004 – the largest in the annual series of the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism show – and stake a claim for islands on the emirate’s The World project.The sale of the islands was launched at ATM and Wahid Attalla, Director, Commercial and Operations of Nakheel, developers of The World, said interest at the show has been “fantastic.”

“We had three individuals at our stand who had jumped on planes and flown out to ATM from as far away as Europe as soon as they heard the islands were on sale,” he said.These are very serious enquiries for islands that cost between Dhs23 million and Dhs135 million.”Attalla added: “Our stand has been incredibly busy. The World is proving very popular and there is a lot of interest from across the globe for this offshore development. This has definitely been our most successful ATM.”Arabian Travel Market 2004, is the biggest in the 11-year series with more than 1,400 exhibitors from 55 countries.The show, which closes at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Friday night, has been generating a host of business opportunities for exhibitors.

Vita Tours , the Umm Al-Quwain-based outbound and inbound group handler and VIP and incentive travel company says it signed five contracts on the first day of the show.Now Vita Managing Director, Valentina Zagvozdina says she’s been so impressed with the show that she has decided to sign up for ATM 2005.

“We have signed deals with travel professionals in Russia, the Ukraine, India and Egypt,” she said. “I did not expect anything as good as this. We have not only met well over 100 possible clients but have done far more business than expected. This show really works for us.”Niall McLoughlin, Communications Manager, Dubai Festival City, said the show had been busier than last year. “In particular we have had a lot of enquiries about the residences at DFC so this show has been a big success for us.”The MICE sector and Pan Arab tourism was receiving the most demand, according to Ali Z.A. Abu Monassar, Deputy Chairman of Net Tours and Travels, the ground handler for ATM.“I have a staff of 20 at the show and I have personally spoken to more than 100 buyers so far. We have had a lot of requests for conference and incentive business and for Pan Arab tourism. There has been tremendous growth in this year’s ATM and it is attracting a very high quality of visitors looking to do business.”

Building on its first visit to Arabian Travel Market, Abu Dhabi now plans to return in 2005, according to Mohammed Mounib, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Duty Free, an exhibitor at the Abu Dhabi pavilion.“I am very pleased that the initiative has been taken to have a major presence here. This is the first time we have had such a co-ordinated presence,” he said.Reed Travel Exhibitions, RTE, which organises the show said exhibitor feedback had been particularly positive about the high calibre of trade professionals visiting the show.“At this show we have had quantity and quality,” said Tom Nutley, Chairman, RTE.Arabian Travel Market 2004 will be open to the public on Friday evening from 4pm until 9pm. There will be an entry fee of Dhs5 for adults while youngsters under the age of 16 will be allowed in free, providing they are accompanied by an adult. Visitors producing a Visa card will enter free of charge.

First Gulf Bank launches Investments with Société Générale

KM Correspondent.

Abu Dhabi, 27, April 2004 First Gulf Bank, One of the leading financial institutions in the UAE, has announced the launch of two exclusive new investment products in association with Société Générale. A launch seminar was held in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai to introduce the investment products “Dynamic Income Portfolios”, attended by the bank’s customers and businessmen of the UAE.

The two exclusive portfolio products were launched to meet the needs of investors in the UAE and provide diversity in terms of appetite for risk. The first investment portfolio is a 100% Capital Guaranteed at maturity. It is a six-year term product with targeted return of 13% p.a. and volatility rate of 3.9%. The portfolio is an investment structure offering exposure to various alternative investments and hedge funds strategies that is dynamically managed. The second Dynamic Income portfolio is a 50% Capital Guaranteed at maturity. It is also a six year term portfolio with targeted returns of 16-18% p.a. Moreover, a fixed coupon of 12% p.a. is paid by Société Générale on 50% of the portfolio. The balance 50% of the portfolio is an investment structure offering exposure to various alternative investments and hedge funds strategies that is dynamically managed. Société Générale, a leading global bank with a rating of AA- from S&P, provides the capital guarantee on both the portfolios. The investment advisory services are provided by CITCO Group, a leading global hedge funds advisory group.

The launch was attended by Andre Sayegh, Chief Operating Officer, First Gulf Bank and Amit Wanchoo, Retail Banking Group Head of First Gulf Bank. Jamal Saab, CITCO Managing Director for the Middle East , and Marc El Asmar Sales & Marketing Head of MENA Equity Linked products for Société Générale had presented the details of the two investment portfolios to the customers. The products close for subscription on April 30, 2004 .

This is the first exclusive investment products launched by First Gulf Bank. The bank is moving towards offering various financial services and solutions to customers on the investment side, ensuring presenting products that are unique and exclusive in the market that add value to customer’s existing investment portfolios. The bank has shown outstanding financial results in the first quarter of 2004, the net profit has grown by 85% compared to the same period last year to AED 51.3 million. The bank’s continuous financial progress and launch of innovative products shows its commitment to putting the first into banking.

ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET REGISTERS ‘UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH’

OVER 1,400 EXHIBITORS FROM 55 COUNTRIES MAKE 2004 EVENT LARGEST IN SHOW’S 11-YEAR-HISTORY

DUBAI May 3, 2004 Arabian Travel Market, the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism show which gets under way at the Dubai World Trade Centre tomorrow, has registered unprecedented growth with 30% more occupied floor space than last year, over 1,400 exhibitors from 55 countries and a visitor pre-registration profile spanning 95 nations. The 11 th in the annual series and spanning some 11,800 square metres, Arabian Travel Market 2004 is the largest ever and organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) say further growth is on the cards for next year.

“This year’s unprecedented growth is due to three factors, increasing stand space largely from Asian and Middle Eastern countries, a return to the show of Bulgaria, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Nepal and Greece, all of which were missing last year in the wake of the SARS and Iraq crises and a flurry of new entrants, again largely from the Middle East,” said Tom Nutley, Chairman, RTE. “New to the show are first-time pavilions from Abu Dhabi and Iran and a host of new development projects from Dubailand to Emaar. “While the show is now the fastest-growing in the RTE portfolio, normally registering between 10-15% annual increase in floor space – this year is a one-off. We do however, anticipate continued growth for next year, but at the more usual level.”

RTE says the scale of demand this year surpassed all expectations and has sent a clear signal that the travel and tourism industry globally is bouncing back from last year’s doldrums. “We have had to turn down requests for additional space from some Dubai projects, Oman and Saudi Arabia – so the prospects for next year are healthy,” said Nutley . “The sheer scale and scope of demand is evidence, if any is needed, that this industry is exceptionally resilient. “It is also encouraging that the exhibitor profile has expanded and this year also features extensive representation from adventure tour operators, well being clinics, spas, golf resorts, ferry companies and island hideaways. Many of these are new to the market and the business opportunities on offer are more expansive than ever.”

RTE is also anticipating its highest visitor turnout with this year’s pre-registrations some 35% up on the same time last year. “Two heartening factors have emerged from the pre-registrations,” said Nutley . “Firstly, visitors have pre-registered from 95 countries –whereas the entire visitor turnout last year represented 84 countries. This suggests that we are now reaching new markets and a good many of those registered are visiting the show for the first time.”

Arabian Travel Market 2004, which is held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai, will run at the DWTC until May 7.

The show will feature a full, free-to-attend programme of educational and informative seminars sponsored by Travel Trade News and TradeArabia.com. The seminar programme will run from Wednesday, May 5 – Thursday, May 6 and will tackle some ground-breaking subjects.

World of Events will give delegates an outline on ‘Organising World Class Events in the Gulf;’ Market Vision Research and Consulting will outline ‘Trends In Outbound Travel From Saudi Arabia;’ Destination Services for Expedia Inc. will explore how ‘E-Commerce Is Not The Future, It Is The Present;’ Dar Al Manasek and waytoumrah.com will present ‘E-Umrah Made Easy;’ while the International Meeting Professionals Association will provide an outline on ‘Smart Packaging – Meetings-2-Go.’

VVIPs due to attend Arabian Travel Market 2004 include: His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of the UAE President’s Office; His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon, Chairman of Al Ain Economic Department and Tourism Promotion Authority; His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of Royal Jet, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation, Abu Dhabi; His Excellency Sheikh Tariq Bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority; Photis Phoutiou, Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation; Mrs Nabila Al Anjari, Kuwait’s Undersecretary for Tourism and Bill Marriott, owner of Marriott Hotels.

Meanwhile, 70 of the world’s leading travel buyers from within the GCC and the international Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Events (MICE) sector are being hosted to Arabian Travel Market. Many will fly in with Emirates, the show’s official airline and they will stay at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Dubai , the official hosted buyer property for 2004.

The hosted buyers will meet Arabian Travel Market exhibitors on the first day of the show in an appointment-setting session. RTE says it has already begun work on Arabian Travel Market 2005, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 3-6 next year. “We are currently in negotiations with the DWTC for additional space and we expect to deliver a show of more than 13,000 square metres nett,” said Nutley .

“We are optimistic of reaching this target and achieving even more growth because of the seemingly endless number of projects being developed in the Middle East and because of airlines from the region opening up new routes – such as Emirates imminently due to fly to the US and China. We will then be better able to access these markets.” BBC World, the BBC’s commercially funded 24-hour international news and information channel, is the ‘Official Broadcast Partner’ for Arabian Travel Market 2004. A BBC World crew will be at the show to film interviews for the channel’s Middle East Business Report and FASTTRACK programmes. Arabian Travel Market 2004 will be open to trade visitors only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday evening and Friday evening, the how will also be open to the public.

 

This year a charge of Dhs5 will be levied on adults visiting during the public sessions, while youngsters under the age of 16 will be allowed in free, providing they are accompanied by an adult. Visitors producing a Visa card, will also be allowed free entry.

Opening times of Arabian Travel Market 2004 are as follows:

Tuesday, May 4 11.00 – 18.00 Meridian Club & Trade Visitors

Wednesday, May 5 10.00 – 18.00 Meridian Club & Trade Visitors

Thursday, May 6 10.00 – 20.00 Meridian Club & Trade Visitors

17.00 – 20.00 Public

Friday, May 7 16.00 – 21.00 Meridian Club/Trade & Public

AUSTRIA PLANS TO EXPAND ATM PRESENCE INTEREST IN 2005 EVENT TAKES OFF

DUBAI May 5, 2004 As Arabian Travel Market 2004, the largest in the annual series of the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism show, entered its second day at the Dubai World Trade Centre, exhibitor plans to expand their presence at next year’s show began to emerge. The Austrian Tourist Board announced it will be returning to ATM with a bigger presence next year, prompted by an expected increase in business following the launch of the Vienna-Dubai route by Emirates on 1 st May.

Dr. Peter Furlinger, who deals with overseas markets for the Austrian National Tourist Office said: “ATM is a vital platform for us and interest in the region has grown significantly year on year. Our stand space is already up from 35sq mtrs to 50 sq mtrs this year and with the new air links, we expect that to expand even more.”

Speaking on the first day of the show, Dr Furlinger said: “We have been coming to ATM for 11 years and see a consistent 10% increase year on year in visitors to our stand. ATM has always been our only activity of this nature in the Middle East , primarily because there is no other show like it in terms of the mix of visitors it attracts, from both the business and the consumer side.”

Tourism from the Middle East has increased considerably since its all-time low two years ago when the Iraqi situation and SARS dented confidence worldwide. “We have already seen an increase of 105% in the first three months of this year, compared to the same period last year,” said Erika Anna Nowak, market and media manager for Vienna ’s tourist office.

Qatar Airways opened its own Vienna-Dubai route in November 2003. Emirates decision to come on board had followed more than five years of negotiations, she said, “but I am absolutely delighted at its decision and we welcome them both. We are particularly looking to promote family holidays at the moment, but believe the new air routes will also open up Middle East tourism into Slovakia and neighbouring countries also. We sold 63,000 overnight stays in Vienna alone last year and are looking for a 20% increase on that this year.”

Emirates flights are currently via Munich , running three times a week, but will be direct and daily as from 15 th June. Meanwhile Cypriot tour operator Outbound Travel is also looking to expand its presence next year.“Before the launch of ATM I found it difficult to network in the Middle East . This show has proved the solution. I have been coming since the show was launched and will be back next year, hopefully with a bigger participation,” said Demetris Argyrou, Administration Manager, Outbound Travel.And Australia , which this year has a pavilion double the size of its 2003 participation, is looking to expand again for 2005.

“We are targeting Arab families and honeymooners and ATM is vital for this – we’d never miss it,” said Paul Buggy, Manager, International Market Development for Tourism Queensland . “We see it as an emerging market with a lot of untapped potential. We have very high expectations for business across the board at this year’s show. ATM has been very effective in raising the profile of Australia in this region.”

First-time exhibitor, Italian in-bound MICE tour operator, Ovest Detination Italie, said ATM was “amazing” and it would definitely be returning next year. “We heard excellent reports about it from our suppliers and decided it was about time we mounted our own presence,” said Marida Aiello from company head office. “Everything about it is excellent, from the way it’s organised to the type and calibre of visitor it attracts.”

Hotel and resorts concern, Raffles International, is exhibiting for the first time under a corporate banner and is already certain it will be back again next year. “Individual companies have exhibited in the past and such has been their success, we decided to bring the corporate branding in,” said Beatrice Ganter, Director of Marketing Communications. “The Middle East is a very exciting market at the moment in terms of development and we are very hopeful of finding potential partners at the show.”

Over 1,400 exhibitors from 55 countries are taking part in Arabian Travel Market 2004 – now the fastest-growing show in the portfolio of Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises the event. The show is 30% bigger in floor space than last year’s event and though RTE says this year’s growth is “unprecedented” and unlikely to be repeated in scope, further expansion is however on the cards. The pavilions such as Austria planning expansion and new markets likely to open up through the launch of new destinations by regional airlines, growth is achievable but will more likely be in the normal range of between 10 and 15 percent,” said Tom Nutley, Chairman, RTE.

rabian Travel Market 2004 runs at the Dubai World Trade Centre until Friday night. On Thursday evening the show will be open to the public from 5pm until 8pm . This year adults will have to pay Dhs5 to enter the show while youngster under 16 will be allowed in free providing they are accompanied by an adult. Visitors producing a Visa card will also be allowed free entry.