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Middle East Travel Market Growing

Excerpts from the interview:

What made you expand the World Travel Awards?

It was the demand from the regional winners wanting to have recognition. One event just wasn’t going to do.

What credibility can a company gain from winning a World Travel Award?

It’s recognition from the travel industry worldwide. The number of voters increases every year and it’s a true endorsement. Our effort is honouring the achievements and on their part it’s something companies can shout about and use in their marketing. This happens as more and more consumers recognise the World Travel Awards emblem and trust its guarantee of excellence.

What’s the future of the awards ceremony?

The media network is growing, so we can include more media across the world from each region. The travel industry is the biggest industry in the world and the biggest employer, and we want to help it grow in the right direction.

Where do you feel is a particularly growing travel market?

The Middle East, definitely, with places such as Dubai, Oman, Qatar and Jordan. We also see amazing potential in China and South America - there’s anywhere and everywhere in the world.

How has the credit crunch affected the tourism industry?

In the Caribbean specifically, the number of arrivals has decreased. It has been affected by the situation in the USA. But there is the greatest optimism about the travel industry - people always travel for business and pleasure. People will be careful but they’ll still spend and everyone I’ve spoken to, including hotel owners and holiday operators, are very optimistic. There will be a little restructuring and reorganising, but travel is everyone’s greatest passion and it will always be there.

adam@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE