This year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will see a focus on the UK as Middle East travellers take advantage of the low exchange rate following the Brexit vote.
The prediction comes after the UAE set a new record for oversees spending in the UK, in 2015, when receipts from 347,000 arrivals increased 12% to reach $608.99 million.
“This will rise further as visitors take advantage of the low exchange rate following last year’s Brexit vote – the UK voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, a shock result triggering a fall of over 10% in the value of sterling against the US dollar, providing Gulf visitors with added value,” said Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market.
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“The numbers speak for themselves. While Britain has enjoyed a long and rich history of hospitality and heritage, the new conditions have created a favourable opportunity for the UK in the midst of significant economic uncertainties.”
He added that the UK is expected to have a strong representation at Expo2020 in Dubai, given that it is a close partner of the UAE and wider Middle East region, in both tourism and trade.
It welcomed more than one million visitors from the region between January and October 2016 – a year on year increase of 4%.
This year’s ATM takes place from April 24-27 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).
