Every year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) addresses issues that we feel are reshaping the international travel landscape, and in 2025, in line with our theme, ‘Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity’, our extensive conference programme will explore how the latest market trends in contemporary traveller behaviour are being influenced by innovative technology, customisation and enhanced connectivity.

 

Identifying and preparing for these trends is essential to stay relevant and successful as our industry continues to evolve at pace. Connectivity is clearly a significant aspect of that, providing a fast and seamless flow of data.  

 

ATM will be held at DWTC, Dubai, from April 28 to May 1, 2025.

 

At ATM’s Travel Tech exhibition, delegates will be able to explore how advances in artificial intelligence (AI), high-speed Wi-Fi and virtual reality (VR) are converging to create highly personalised and immersive market propositions for every aspect of a traveller’s experience. Customer preferences can be anticipated, and subsequently, by using AI-powered personalised marketing, they can compete more effectively for their attention.

 

Of course, connectivity is key to solo travellers, who are not just taking leisure trips, as we’ve witnessed with digital nomads – an escalating trend which really took off in the wake of the pandemic. Data from Squaremouth revealed that 42% of travel insurance customers plan solo trips this year.  

 

Another global trend that will no doubt be fuelled by enhanced connectivity is the demand for nostalgia travel – in particular, millennials reminiscing and seeking to reconnect with their youth by recreating special trips or childhood dreams. Some also want to relive those experiences by sharing them with their children.  

 

Event tourism, especially for sports and music, is also experiencing significant growth, with the former expected to be worth $1.33 trillion and the latter forecast to reach $13.8 billion by 2032. Fans are not only travelling more often, but they are also increasing their budgets. Regional markets are already capitalising on this trend, with Saudi Arabia welcoming 2.5 million overseas tourists across 80 international sports events in the last four years alone. 

 

Travel to and from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is expected to see a resurgence from 2025, with numbers of arrivals there and in the Middle East on track to exceed pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year. 

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that a growing middle class in APAC will be responsible for 50% of global air passenger growth up to 2043. These trends are reflected by 18% year-on-year growth in the size of the ATM Asia segment on the show floor.

 

Travellers will also continue to focus on sustainable practices and responsible tourism in 2025, areas that were highlighted at ATM 2024 and which will form a key component of our content program. Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey found that 81% of Millennials and 79% of Gen Zs think businesses should do more to enable consumers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions. Industry commentators expect that ecotourism will increase to $429 billion by 2028. -TradeArabia News Service