Abu Dhabi ME100
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority will host a heritage village at WTM where visitors can learn about the culture and history of the emirate. They can have their photo taken with a falcon and even get their hands decorated with henna.
The huge two-storey stand will host more than 60 of the destination’s key stakeholders, including hotels, resorts, transport providers and tour operators, all with their own exciting news.
Due to popular demand the tourist board will once again be inviting agents to picture themselves in Abu Dhabi on the Thursday. By completing challenges on the stand, agents will collect puzzle pieces which can be entered into a prize draw to win trips to the emirate.
Dubai ME400
Dubai will also be showcasing its heritage, with henna artists and calligraphers on its stand. Dubai Tourism, along with its 62 stakeholders, will be giving visitors the lowdown on the destination’s exciting news for next year, including the opening of the Palazzo Versace, the Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa and the world’s highest restaurant, Atmosphere, which will open in January on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa.
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has also chosen WTM to unveil its own news – a distinctive new brand identity, Definitely Dubai, which will go hand in hand with a new UK facing-consumer website.
The emirate will also be fundraising for WTM’s water aid charity, Just a Drop.
Sharjah ME350
Neighbouring emirate Sharjah is aggressively targeting the UK market and will be fielding a large delegation from the Commerce and Tourism Development Authority at the show. Sharjah saw an 11% increase in tourist arrivals during the first half of 2010 and is aiming for more.
Oman ME300
Oman’s heady mix of luxury product and authentic Arabian experiences is tempting more Brits to its shores, with over 100,000 visiting in 2009. The Ministry of Tourism wants to keep that number growing, and is expanding room capacity, expecting it to reach 15,000 rooms by 2015.
Visitors can head down to the stand at ME300 to find out more about the destination’s exciting developments. Four large new resorts are due to open, including The Wave, which will have a Fairmont, a Kempinksi and an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course.
Next year will also see the opening of the Gulf’s first Royal Opera House; the 250-room Millennium Hotel in Muscat; the 264-room City Seasons Hotel Muscat; and the Oman Conference & Exhibition Centre.
Jordan ME200
If you’re heading to WTM on agent day, make sure you head down to the Jordan Tourism Board stand ME200 for 12.30. There’ll be a lunch for agents, followed by training on existing and new product, and you’ll be entered in a prize draw.
Only 60 places are available, so you’ll need to pre-register – contact Juan Barros or David Symes on visitjordan@brightergroup.com or 020 7223 1878.
Lebanon ME270
Lebanon is also growing in popularity in the British market, and agents should head along to stand ME270 to find out more about the destination and fam trips scheduled for next year by the Ministry of Tourism.
With two direct daily flights from Heathrow, it’s a great destination for short breaks, and 10 operators, 12 hotel chains and the national carrier Middle East Airlines will be on hand.
Israel EM650
Meanwhile, the Israel Government Tourism Office will be discussing its strategy for targeting the mid-luxury market in the UK and niche markets like active and adventure breaks, along with its improved programme of agent training and support, including a soon-to-launch extranet containing a new online training programme.
Yemen ME390
And the Yemen Tourism Promotion Board will once again by proactively raising awareness of the destination, promoting specialist tours and activities from diving on Socotra to desert trekking.
