Arabian Travel Market 2011 has matched the size of the 2010 show ahead of the official opening tomorrow, with more than 20,000 square meters of floor space booked.

More than 320 main exhibitors and 2,000 sharing companies will take part in ATM 2011, with 69 countries and 57 national tourist organisations represented at the annual event.

Pictured: Ahmed Khoory, senior vice president Emirates; Mark Walsh, group exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions; Saleh Al Geziry, director overseas promotion, Department of Tourism Dubai; and Ali Abu Monassar, chairman, The Vision Destination Management

Unlocking business opportunities within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals, ATM showcases a diverse range of accommodation options, tourism attractions, new airline routes and travel technology.

“The number of exhibitors we have attracted this year is particularly impressive, especially given the difficulties in some parts of the region along with the residual effects of the economic downturn,” said Mark Walsh, group exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market 2011.

“Despite these factors, the exhibition and conference agenda of ATM, including some of the industry’s foremost experts from benchmark companies, has attracted strong interest from decision-makers from the region and further afield,” he added.

The four-day programme for ATM includes seminars, workshops and specialist industry days including travel agents day, careers day and consumer day.

Sponsored this year by a new exhibitor, the Mexico Tourism Board, ATM 2011’s Seminar Programme addresses many of the issues generating debate within the region’s travel and tourism industry.

Topics include the luxury travel sector, the cruise industry, aviation, Middle East tourism trends, technology and online marketing, green initiatives, medical tourism and many more.

Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE, ruler of Dubai.

Now approaching its eighteenth year, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world

In 2010, Arabian Travel Market featured 2,236 exhibitors across more than 20,000 square metres, attracting more than 22,000 visitors.