Jordan will stage this year its largest-ever Arabian Travel Market participation with the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) mounting a 180 square meter pavilion at the Middle East's premier travel and tourism show being held in Dubai this May, stated a press release. JTB figures show that in 2001, Arab tourist arrivals to Jordan rose by 25 percent.
“The growth reflects increasing participation from the Jordanian private sector,” explained JTB Area Manager Arab Markets, Mazen Talhouni. “This year the Jordan pavilion will feature 20 inbound travel and tourism suppliers, as opposed to 13 last year.”
Jordanian newcomers to Arabian Travel Market, which will be held at Airport Expo Dubai, United Arab Emirates from May 7-10, include the soon-to-open Le Royal – which will be the largest hotel in the Kingdom as well as The Gardenia Hotel, Amman. “Six private travel and tour operator agencies will also join the Jordanian promotion,” explained Talhouni.
The JTB said its Arabian Travel Market 2002 focus will concentrate on intra-regional travel. “With the loss of a significant share of foreign tourism over the past few months we are keenly focusing on boosting arrivals from the Gulf States,” explained Talhouni. “At the show we will be looking to open up new channels with Gulf tour operators.”
“Arab tourism now makes up about 65 percent of our total tourism arrivals and is keeping the sector afloat,” said Talhouni. “Indeed more than 80 percent of Arab arrivals last year came from within the Gulf, he added.
Jordan is among 45 countries from which, to date, exhibitors have registered for Arabian Travel Market 2002. “The profile includes 36 national pavilions and the mix is as great as ever both in product and geographic destination offerings,” said Kavanagh.
Last year 59 percent of Arabian Travel Market visitors polled said they attended the show with the specific aim of finding new products or developments. “Despite the international travel slowdown we do expect this year's event to match last year's record showing when over 700 exhibitors from 59 countries participated and over 10,000 people, including 6,336 trade professionals visited,” said Kavanagh. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
