The Supreme Commission for Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will participate in the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to be held in Dubai from the 3-6 May 2005 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, who will inaugurate the SCT Pavilion in the presence of HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, Secretary General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism.
Covering an area of 300 square metres, the SCT Pavilion will house 28 Saudi specialized organizations including hotels, resorts, travel and tourism companies, and Umrah operators. These companies will present their promotional programs and tourism packages, which constitute the Saudi tourism product that is continuously growing due to the strategic plans developed by the Supreme Commission for Tourism based on past experience and investment in available potentials.
This is The Supreme Commission for Tourism’s third year of participation in the event with the objective of marketing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a popular tourist destination by highlighting the various regional tourist attractions of the Kingdom. Other SCT objectives are: provision of a support mechanism for their private sector partners; encouragement of investments in the tourism sector; provision of tourism offers and packages; promotion of intra-Gulf tourism; marketing the five tourism regions of the Kingdom; and establishing a point of contact between commercial delegations and the companies participating under the SCT umbrella.
Occupying Pavilion Number 600 at the ATM, Saudi Arabia will show the diverse tourism aspects of the Kingdom with the participation of five regions, Riyadh, Aseer, Jeddah, Taif, and Hail. Features include a Bedouin tent displaying traditional folk arts, performances on Arabic musical instruments (Rababa and Semsimiyah), and a display of falconry, for which the Kingdom is famed throughout the Arab world. In addition to participating in the exhibition SCT, will organize a seminar to provide information about the new Umrah system and its benefits.
Under the umbrella of SCT, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is represented by Qasswa For Hajj and Umra, Durrah Al-Arous Company for Real Estate Development and tourism, National Company for Tourism (Syahya), Al-Alamiah Company for Internet and Communication Co. (BabAlumra Division), Harit Hotel Consulting Co., Gate 7 Reservation system, Saudi Afwaj Group Co. for Tourism, InterContinental Hotels Group, Manasek for Hajj and Umraadn organizing Tourism Trips, Dar Aleman Co. for Hajj and Umra, Hospitality Wings for Tourism and Umra, Mawasim Tourism, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts (Al-Faisaliah Hotels), Asia Group of Hotels Co. Ltd, Bab AlUmra Electronic System Co., Real Estate and Tourism resorts Group, and others.
The tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has shown continuous growth and the number of Summer Festivals has gone up from 12 in 2003 to 22 in 2004 representing a 67% increase. Local tourism trips reached 33.8 million accounting for a total of 207.5 million nights spent in accommodation and an expenditure of SR 34.6 billion. Inbound tourism to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reached 7.9 million trips accounting for 99.3 million nights and a total expenditure of SR 21.3 billion.
A total of 1200 exhibitors are scheduled to participate in this year’s ATM from more than 61 countries including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Monaco, Nepal, Morocco, Holland, Oman, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Seashells, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates the hosting country will participate in the ATM 2005.
Last year, Arabian Travel Market attracted more than 17,000 visitors from 96 countries and Saudi tourism companies secured a total of SR200 million worth of commercial deals. This year the organizers are expecting an even higher attendance.
