Middle East now aims at increasing expenditure on corporate travel by 32 pc in 2022
Already a hub for luxury travel, the Middle East now aims at increasing expenditure on corporate travel by 32 pc in 2022. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will address delegates on the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Global Stage as growth in business travel spending is estimated to have exceeded leisure travel in 2021. This information was brought to light in a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in November 2021. After a growth of 49 pc in 2021, the business travel segment in the region is expected to rise another 32 pc this year.
Business travel is likely to attract a lot of attention at the Arabian Travel Market that will take place from May 9-12 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). “This positive data will provide a welcome boost for business travel and tourism professionals throughout the Middle East region, as economies around the world begin to relax travel restrictions, despite the disruption caused by the outbreak of the Omicron variant. During 2021, the increase in business spending for the full year is expected to have actually outpaced spending on leisure travel by 13 pc, 10 pc and 1 pc in the Middle East, Europe and Africa respectively. Aviation experts speaking at ATM 2021, had expected business travel to lag behind leisure travel, but this estimated increase of 32 pc, comes on top of a predicted rise during 2021 of 49 pc which although 2020 was a challenging year, the business travel segment is now clearly accelerating towards pre pandemic levels,” says Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – ATM.
The WTTC report, Adapting to Endemic Covid-19: The Outlook for Business Travel, was compiled in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, a consultancy. It ranked the Middle East first in terms of business travel spending, with an increase of 49 pc, followed by Europe and Africa (36 pc), Asia Pacific (32 pc) and the Americas (14 pc). The report predicts that the Asia Pacific region will lead the world in 2022 with growth in spending of 41 pc.
In its 29th year, working in collaboration with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the ATM show this year will include destination summits focused on the key source markets of Saudi Arabia, Russia and India. A new feature will be ATM Travel Tech. This will host seminars, debates and presentations, including pitches from finalists in the brand-new ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition.
The dedicated ARIVALDubai@ATM forum will current and future trends for tour operators and attractions, focusing on growing business through marketing, technology, distribution, thought leadership and executive-level connections.
ATM is all set to be an integral part of the Arabian Travel Week. The travel week is a space for travel professionals from all over the world to come together and shape the recovery of the travel industry in the Middle East. This includes exhibitions, conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, project launches and networking events. Things look good for UAE as the WTTC has endorsed its pandemic management, awarding the city a ‘Safe Travels’ stamp.
