Qatar, Oman and UAE nominated as key tourism markets

Oman, Qatar and the UAE outside Dubai have been nominated as the top three emerging markets in the GCC in a recent survey of tourism leaders conducted by organisers of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), to be held in Dubai April 30 – May 2, 2005.

In addition, Saudi Arabia was identified as a new destination with potential to develop a successful tourism product in the longer term.

Conference organiser, Jonathan Worsley said that the online survey of the 45-member AHIC advisory panel revealed both chief executives of regional tourism icons as well as international hospitality companies were in agreement on the prime locations for future hotel and tourism investment. As a result, these markets will all be the subject of dedicated country focus panels at the conference.

The advisory panel includes among others: Salem bin Dasmal, CEO of Dubailand; Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International; James Wilson, president of IFA Hotels and Resorts; Wahid Attala, executive director of Nakheel; Jurgen Baumhoff, CEO of Qatar National Hotels; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of World Travel & Tourism Council; and regional directors from international hotel groups InterContinental, Marriott, Movenpick, Rezidor SAS and Rotana.

Worsley said: “While the consensus is that Dubai is the leader in the regional hospitality industry, this success is set to be replicated in neighbouring states – many of which have already set in motion development plans to exploit their tourism potential.

“However, countries such as Qatar - which has been tipped as a destination to watch by the travel giant Thomsons - have demonstrated the virtues of complementary tourism and diversity, rather than copycat developments.”

The conference is set to attract more than 300 delegates to discuss topics as broad-ranging as environmental and sustainable tourism to real estate issues, investment and industry trends, supply / demand dynamics and security issues.

The event will run from April 30 to May 2, 2005 at the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai, setting the scene for the region’s largest dedicated travel exhibition, the Arabian Travel Market, which opens on May 3. The conference is organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world, and MEED Conferences.