The strong performance of the sector and future opportunities were highlighted during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, which took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 1-4.
Business travel in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is recovering more rapidly than in any other region, according to the most recent Business Travel Index™ Outlook annual forecast and outlook (2022) from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest association for business travel. MEA business travel achieved 86% of its 2019 levels in 2022, outperforming the recovery in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, stated, “The business travel sector is a crucial element of the Middle East’s broader travel and tourism industry, and it is heartening to witness its strong rebound since the pandemic.”
According to the forecast, global business travel spending reached $933 billion in 2022, which is 65% of the pre-pandemic travel spend of USD $1.4 trillion. The MEA region accounted for $23 billion, which is approximately 2.5% of the overall spending within the sector.