DUBAI MAKES BIG PRESENCE AT GIBTM-2009
57 CO-PARTICI PANTS SHOWCASE DUBAI’S BUSINESS TOURISM STRENTHS
His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) opened the third edition of Gulf Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition at the Abdu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) on Tuesday, March 31.
Accompanied by Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), he toured the Dubai Stand being shared by 57 co-participants, up from 30 in 2007. Also present were Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, DTCM Executive Director Operations and Marketing, Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Media Relations and Acting Director Business Development, and Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, DTCM Director of Overseas Promotions.
Mr. bin Sulayem said: “The GIBTM is an important exhibition to tap the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) business, especially at a time when the tourism industry in different parts of the world is facing the economically-challenging times. All the tourism bodies in the UAE are working towards exploiting the potential that tourism offers, especially the MICE or business tourism. “
The importance that this exhibition holds is reflected in big increase in the number of co-participants from Dubai between 2007 (30) and 2009 (57), he added.
He briefed Sheikh Sultan and his accompanying delegation about various initiatives launched by the DTCM in association with its industry partners.
One of the important components of the ‘Keep discovering Dubai’ familiarization programme, being conducted by DTCM in association with Emirates Airlines, hotels and DMCs, was to tap the MICE markets across the world. About 2000 travel trade representatives and Media personnel from more than 60 countries are expected to visit Dubai between March and May this year to get first-hand experience of the emirate’s tourism product offerings.
During this year, the DTCM will be conducting a variety of programmes to attract more visitors to Dubai and boost hotel occupancies.
For the third successive year, DTCM is participating in the three-day exhibition to promote and market the emirate as ideal year-round MICE destination.
Organised by Reed Exhibitions, the GIBTM has been designed as a place to learn, gather and exchange information, create new relationships and conduct MICE business.
The Dubai Stand co-participants include DTCM’s Human Resources and Training Solutions, Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB), Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS).
Dubai Stand measures 406 square metres and the GIBTM-2009 attracted over 275 exhibitors, including hotels, destinations, and suppliers looking to target the regional and international MICE industry and business travel industry.
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