A new boom industry, sound and lighting, is emerging in the Middle East and Dubai is leading the charge. The Gulf sound and lighting sector's surge is fuelled by Dubai's growth in tourism and commerce and the coming of so many major events to the region.
Dubai's tourism sector is growing at more than 25 per cent a year, recent official statistics reveal. This growth, particularly, due to the large number of hotels needed to accommodate the visitors, bolsters the sound and lighting market, said says IIR Pro Audio Light Middle East (PALME) Project Manager, Iain McLean.
According to studies, tourism to Dubai stands at five million a year and it is expected to be 10 million by 2007 and an extraordinary 40 million by 2015. He also points to Qatar's recent staging of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Islamic Summit, the coming World Bank forum in Dubai and the Dubai Shopping Festival are "major events requiring state-of-the-art sound and lighting on a very big scale."
With a week still to go to PALME, the region's first sound and lighting communication exhibition, organizers are encouraged by the extensive exhibitor and visitor interest. More than 60 exhibitors from 14 countries have signed up for PALME, 2000-plus visitors have pre-registered and a staggering 60 products will be launched for the Middle East. Such is the interest in PALME that organizers have already made it an annual event. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
