Sustainability Takes Center Stage At Tourism Conference 2023

ATM 2023 Will Focus On ‘Working Towards Net Zero

The four-day event will feature over 150 speakers across 63 sessions as policymakers and industry figures from around the world outline how they are working to drive decarbonization within the sector.

Ministers from the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Jamaica, and Spain will join a host of senior figures from the private sector to showcase sustainable innovations, share knowledge and best practises, and explore opportunities and challenges along the road to net zero, it added.

Exhibitor participation in ATM 2023 will be 27% higher than last year, with growth across all show sectors. These include regional upticks for the Middle East (15.1% larger), Europe (30.9% larger), Asia (18.6% larger), and Africa (44.7% larger), as well as increased representation from Travel Tech and hotels, which have expanded by 57.9% and 23.5%, respectively.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, "We intend to use the 30th edition of ATM to address one of the most significant challenges facing our sector, in line with our theme of "Working Towards Net Zero." "Increased participation in this year’s show not only reflects the seriousness with which global tourism professionals and policymakers are taking sustainability, but also rising demand for leisure and business travel across the Middle East and beyond."

According to the report, many regional policymakers, such as HE, will be at ATM 2023.Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy; Hoor Al Khaja, Associate Vice President of International Operations at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Mahmood Khaleel Ahmed Al Sayed Alhashmi, Director General of Ajman's Department of Tourism Development; Sujit Mohanty, Chief of the UNDRR for Arab States; HE Fatima Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism; HE Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrooqi, Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism; and HE Nayef Al Fayez, Jordan’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities

It further highlighted that speakers will address a broad range of sector-critical issues throughout the four days of the event, exploring a variety of approaches, policies, and technologies with the potential to shape an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable travel sector for future generations.

Curtis said, "We're thrilled to have such a wide range of ministers and business leaders join us for the 30th edition of ATM 2023."

"We look forward to learning how they are working to achieve net zero within their respective tourism markets as our industry comes together to showcase the cutting-edge innovations and solutions that are driving the next generation of sustainable travel in the Middle East and beyond."

ATM 2023 will have more than 2,000 exhibitors and more than 34,000 people from over 150 countries in attendance.Curtis and her team will release a sustainability pledge at the 30th edition to show that RX is still committed to putting on events that are good for the environment.In addition to setting out the ATM’s journey towards net zero, this pledge will be supplemented by a new playbook that will offer participants a framework within which to mitigate their environmental impact before, during, and after the show while offering an operational guide for the ATM as it works towards net zero by 2030.