UAE - First half 2010 performance results released by venue operator and events organiser, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), reports visitor growth of 13 per cent, which more than matches last year’s 12 per cent increase.
DWTC says visitor traffic at its venues surpassed 630,000 in the first six months of this year across exhibitions and conferences.
“The sustained pace of growth of our events and exhibitions business portfolio is evidence of the ‘real’ value that international businesses and regional buyers derive from participating at tradeshows in Dubai,” says CWTC chief executive, Helal Saeed AlMarri,. “Our venues have continued to attract top-tier visitors from the Middle East, North Africa, CIS and the Indian Sub-Continent, driving tangible returns on investment for exhibiting companies - consequently enabling our organisers to grow their shows into truly global sector leaders.
"DWTC’s promising half-year performance is a robust indicator of the growing confidence that world-renowned organisers and leading associations have in Dubai’s proposition as the platform for trade with the region,” he adds.
The 59 exhibitions and conferences in the first half drew 22,000 companies from over 85 countries, the DWTC claims.
DWTC has hosted 12 major healthcare shows since the beginning of the year, attracting over 133,000 visitors and over 5,000 of the world’s leading manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors. Arab Health 2010 is the second largest in the world and grew 20 per cent in 2010 to occupy the entire exhibition space at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (DICEC), including the 25,000sqm provided by the new Sheikh Saeed halls.
Gulfood 2010, meanwhile, recorded a 22 per cent growth in visitors over 2009.
The 18th Dubai International Boat Show, held in March 2010, saw 15 global launches and 25 regional premieres, with 700 companies participating.
New additions to the first half of 2010 calendar included aviation, ICT and trade events, drawing over 90,000 new visitors.
The DWTC is reporting a strong calendar line up for the future, led by the 30th Anniversary of GITEX Technology Week. Eight new global congresses will be hosted by DWTC during 2011 and 2012, including the International Public Transport Congress, the International Bar Association Congress, the World Diabetes Congress and the World Cardiology Congress – the last of which was won against competition from Singapore, Kyoto and Cape Town.
AlMarri says one DWTC priority has been to increase the event industry’s contribution to Dubai’s GDP and notes the decision to invest in facility expansion, with the Sheikh Saeed Halls last year. “We are pleased that this investment has enabled us to cater for the expansion needs of the mega shows in key sectors this year, and we continue to work with our organisers to support the growth of their shows.”
DWTC’s hospitality also reports strong results for the first half of 2010, catering for half a million guests across a range of events, including 179 weddings.
Caption: Gulfood 2010 recorded a 22% growth in visitors over 2009.
