UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, affirmed in a foreword in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) catalogue that the tourism industry is placed foremost among the country’s long-term strategic vision, highlighting the important role played by this sector in boosting the government’s goals and objects towards achieving sustainable development in the next phases to come.
The following is an edited translation of the His Highness foreword in Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Catalogue.
“It is our pleasure to welcome to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all guests, exhibitors and participants in the Arabian Travel Market 2013 (ATM), especially regional and international guests participating for the first time.
Hosting such a huge number of guests in UAE and Dubai only confirms our continuous commitment to supporting and sponsoring this annual event, given its importance to UAE’s hospitality and tourism sector which plays an integral part in boosting the country’s position as an international tourism and economic destination where all nationalities are brought under one umbrella to communicate, exchange experiences and horde opportunities.
Over the past twenty years, tourism industry formed an indicator to measuring the economic growth and markets’ vibrancy in countries worldwide. We are very much aware of all the advantages and opportunities laid out by the tourism sector for our country; hence stems our keenness to support this sector, placing it at the top of our long-term strategic vision. We are also aware of the important role played by this sector in strengthening our goals and objectives towards attaining sustainable development and developing a comprehensive and diversified infrastructure; in addition to preserving our historical monuments and cultural assets.
During the past two decades, Dubai emerged as a competitive and attractive environment for investment thanks to several factors that promoted the city as a popular tourist, sport, shopping and business destination, in addition to its strategic geographical position between East and West; thus, qualifying the Emirate to be dubbed the “main gate of the world”.
While the Arabian Travel Market 2013 is celebrating its 20th anniversary, there are still so many events and activities to celebrate in its successive editions, allowing workers and professionals in the field of travel and tourism industry to work hand in hand in planning next years’ agendas.
We welcome visitors, exhibitors and tourists hailing to Dubai to learn about the cultures and heritage of peoples throughout this year’s edition of ATM, which has become one of the prominent global events in the map of international tourism exhibitions and seminars."
