Dubai showcasing its MICE strengths at IMEX 2004

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), supported by 53 co-participants from both the public and private sectors, is mounting a major massive marketing and promotional offensive to promote its world-class Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) facilities through a big presence in the IMEX-2004 show starting in Frankfurt Wednesday, 12 May.

This is the second successive participation by Dubai in the worldwide exhibition for incentive travels, meetings and events.

The three-day niche travel show is seeing the participation of over 2,500 exhibitors from more than 119 countries with a contracted exhibition space of 10,700 square metres.

IMEX attracted nearly 6,000 visitors in its debut edition last year. IMEX is unique in attracting a major gathering of international hosted-buyers together with a large representation of industry decision-makers from Germany, a major source market for Dubai.

Located in Hall 3 of Messe Frankfurt, the Dubai Stand (D400) measures 255 square metres and is one of the biggest at the top-level fair. The co-participants hail from a broad spectrum of the tourism industry, including tour operators, golf clubs, hotels and destination management companies.

At a pre-fair meeting held at the DTCM Head Office, the DTCM Manager Overseas Promotions, Mr. Khalifa Ali Buamaim, called upon the representatives of the co-participating organizations to utilize the event to promote the MICE business to Dubai by highlighting the excellent infrastructure and facilities available in the emirate for hosting meetings, conferences, incentive gatherings and fairs of any size.

He said: “Cosmopolitan Dubai, with year-round sunshine, highest safety levels, excellent tourism infrastructure, and a fascinating mix of Arab traditions and breathtaking modernity, is a unique global MICE destination.”

He added: “We have been attracting more and more MICE business and are committed to enhance the MICE share in the overall tourism growth. The hosting of several major events in Dubai in the recent months proves our MICE strengths.”

Mr. Buamaim said the high number of five and four star hotels with world-class conference venues and facilities as well as the strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa makes Dubai an ideal meeting place for the corporate communities from across the world.