ATM to put spotlight on sustainable funding, space tourism

Monday, April 24, 2023

Industry experts will gather in the UAE to discuss sustainable decision-making and financing during the International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC) Middle East Tourism Investment Session at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023.

The leading B2B travel exhibition in the Middle East, ATM 2023 will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 1 to 4.

Related opportunities and challenges will be placed under the microscope throughout ATM 2023, thanks to a range of panel discussions and events related to industry financing, said the event organisers.

In addition to the ITIC panels, this year’s show will feature sessions highlighting industry-critical issues such as travel tech investment, the contemporary geopolitical landscape, urban regeneration, future markets, space tourism and morem, they added.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said that with nearly 160,000 hotel rooms under development across the GCC, this region is undoubtedly a global hotspot for industry investment right now.

“Thanks to the participation of ITIC and a host of other finance-related sessions, ATM 2023 represents the ideal forum for travel, tourism and hospitality professionals from around the world to explore the latest investment opportunities and novel financing models with some of the biggest names in our sector,” stated Curtis.

Taking place on day three of event, the “ITIC Tourism Investment Session: Making Sustainable Decisions” will feature insights from an array of industry experts.

The sessions will begin with a tourism economic outlook for 2023 from Gerald Lawless, Director of ITIC, Invest Tourism Ltd and Ambassador for the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The 30th edition of the show will also feature “Plug and Play: Sustainable Tech – Startups Pitch Battle”, which will see seven entrepreneurs pitch their innovative solutions in front of a panel of independent industry experts at ATM 2023’s brand-new Sustainability Hub.

Other investment-related highlights at ATM 2023 will include sessions on financing sustainable travel, backing green technologies, strengthening the supply chain, future-proofing the travel sector against geopolitical turmoil, the power of urban regeneration, future markets and space tourism, stated Curtis.

The 30th edition of ATM will explore the future of sustainable travel in line with its theme, “Working Towards Net Zero”.

Having officially initiated its journey to net zero, the conference programme will explore how innovative sustainable travel trends are likely to evolve, allowing delegates to identify growth strategies within key vertical sectors, while providing a platform for regional experts to explore a sustainable future ahead of COP28, which will take place in November 2023 at Expo City Dubai.

The conference will also feature a sustainability category at its annual exhibitor awards for the first time. Exhibiting organisations will be recognised based on the extent to which they have considered the environmental impact of their stands, as well as their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

ATM 2023 is held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre and its strategic partners include Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as the Destination Partner, Emirates as the Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as the Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais Travel as the Official DMC Partner.

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