Special Features
UAE Expenditure On Outbound Travel Reaches USD 6.6 Billion Annually
The second edition of World Discovery Fest, the Middle East’s only event offering multiple travel, holiday and lifestyle options for diverse audiences from around the region, has been scheduled for May 31 to June 2, 2012. The event will be held at the Dubai International Marine Club in Mina Sehayi, taking advantage of its proximity to iconic hotels in Dubai, the beach and other popular tourist destinations.The UAE is one of the key target markets of World Discovery Fest 2012, seeking to capitalise on the country’s USD 6.6 billion outbound travel market. The World Discovery Fest’s new venue also brings the event to the heart of the central business district of New Dubai and within the vicinity of over 400,000 residents and tourists, who are all part of the pioneering exhibition’s target audience.
Organised by the International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), World Discovery Fest 2012 will introduce a wide selection of innovative holiday offerings and schemes in the region’s tourism industry. Special segments for “Holiday Homes”, “Wedding & Honeymoon Travel”, “Loyalty Programmes” and “The Cruise Show” will also debut this year at World Discovery Fest.
Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, IC&E, said: “World Discovery Fest 2012 has become more diverse with its focussed tourism and travel packages and its move to a new home at the Dubai International Marine Club complements the event’s stature as the region’s definitive showcase of the world’s most exotic and captivating holiday destinations.”
World Discovery Fest 2012 will include a focus on luxurious and fine “holiday homes”, which offer high-dividend investment opportunities for high-end buyers. The Wedding & Honeymoon Travel segment targets couples who set aside a chunk of their finances towards exotic and romantic getaways to kick-start their future, while The Cruise Show is dedicated to cruise operators seeking to increase their market share by engaging directly with an affluent captive audience. The Loyalty Programmes provide tools for exhibitors to enhance their brands and reinforce their presence in the regional and local markets.
The event will also be showcasing exciting offers from airlines, education travel, spas & resorts, sports & adventure holidays, excursions & holiday packages, overland and inland travel, shopping holidays, and theme parks.
“World Discovery Fest has received a very enthusiastic response from our target audiences, particularly exhibitors who are eager to capitalise on the enormous growth potential of the region as a global tourism and travel market. The UAE presents exciting business opportunities for tourism and travel companies, as recent statistics indicate that the country spends billions of dollars annually on outbound travel alone. By providing a dedicated and conducive networking platform for all market players, World Discovery Fest enhances the business potential of tourism and travel companies, while making it a lot easier for holidaymakers to choose from a comprehensive selection of the best travel destinations in the world,” concluded Godinho.
