The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 kicked off on Monday in Dubai, bringing together the global travel industry for four days to discuss and explore new business opportunities. The event is held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Growth and Economic Importance of Tourism
With 33 years of history, ATM has witnessed a 16% growth compared to last year, with over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries attending this year. This year's theme is 'Travel 2040: Advancing New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology'. The first day of the event focused on two main topics: how to maintain the resilience of tourist destinations in the face of geopolitical challenges and the impact of modern technologies on traveler experiences and the infrastructure of the global travel industry.
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Challenges and Solutions in the Tourism Industry
Senior officials from the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and the United Nations gathered at the global ATM to discuss resilience and the long-term future of tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Mariam, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, in his opening speech, referred to the UAE's ability to respond to recent geopolitical challenges, stating: 'What has been built over the past 50 years is the foundation that we have witnessed in recent months.'
Sheikha Al Nuwis, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, emphasized the importance of preparedness for crises before they occur, saying: 'Countries that manage crises best are those that prepared before the crisis happened.'
Meanwhile, the economic importance of tourism in the Gulf countries was also highlighted. According to statistics presented at ATM, tourism accounts for more than 11% of the GDP of Gulf countries, which, compared to the global average of about 10%, reflects the special position of these countries in the tourism industry.
Technology is also another focus at ATM 2026, with the launch of ATM Travel Tech featuring over 180 exhibitors from 30 countries in two halls. The technology and innovation hub, covering 850 square meters, showcases modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, robotics, and green technologies.
Major Turkish tourism companies are also present at this event with the GoTürkiye booth, introducing the country's tourist destinations.
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