ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021 2

Air connectivity will energize economic recovery IATA urges ME to develop aviation restart roadmap

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments have long established global best practices for working together with industry and across the Middle East will put the region on a solid footing for recovery. Tin the Middle East to develop re-start plans to safely re-link their citizens, with each other. This same approach will help the re-start. There are two ends to IATA Travel Pass will help to conveniently manage health credentials, businesses and economies to global markets when the COVID-19 epidemio- every route. Both must be prepared or the restart cannot happen,” said Al Awadhi. while protecting against fraud. “With Qatar Airways already piloting IATA logical situation permits. IATA also called for regional coordination to ensure IATA highlighted two critical areas of areas where governments need to Travel Pass and Emirates, Etihad and Gulf Air signed-up for trials, the Gulf is that the plans can be efficiently implemented and urged governments to re- work together: at the forefront of preparations,” said Al Awadhi. main vigilant about the industry’s financial situation. ■ Operational restart Continued financial relief essential “Re-establishing air connectivity will energize the economic recovery from A successful operational restart will include bringing aircraft and termi- The financial trauma of the COVID-19 crisis continues. In 2020 Middle COVID-19. With millions of jobs at risk from the prolonged shutdown, not nals back into service. Airlines need to ready their crew, technical personnel East airlines posted losses of $7.1billion in 2020; a loss of $68.47 for each a day should be lost once the epidemiological situation enables a re-opening. and aircraft. After a year of lockdowns, this requires refresher training and passenger flown. With traffic at less than 20% of 2019 levels, the cash burn Restarting safely after a year or more in lockdown will need careful prepara- checks. A regional overview is needed to (1) ensure that the one country’s continues even with severe cost-cutting. tions. At the national level it is important that governments work with in- restart qualifications are accepted by its regional partners and (2) ensure that Airlines in the region received $4.8 billion in government aid in 2020. Most dustry, so everyone understands the benchmarks that need to be achieved to sufficient infrastructure capacity is ready to meet demand as markets unlock. of this support ($4.1 billion) was distributed through direct cash injections. facilitate the lifting of travel restrictions. And at the regional level, where ■ Travel Credentials Despite this several airlines in the Middle East remain at risk of bankruptcy traffic is expected to ramp-up first, it is critical that governments are talking Testing and vaccinations will play a role in opening borders to travel as the or business administration. to each other so that all parties are aligned and ready for a restart,” said Kamil pandemic comes under control. Simple, efficient, and harmonized standards “A financially viable air transport sector will be needed to energize the Al Awadhi, IATA Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East. for what credentials people will need to travel will boost consumer confidence recovery. Government relief for airlines has avoided massive failures that IATA data shows January air passenger traffic in the region was down and give strength to the recovery. would jeopardize a restart. This has not been uniform across the region. With 82.3% compared to January 2019. The ongoing crisis puts over 1.7 million The ICAO Council’s recent approval of requirements for globally accepted no clear timeline to recovery the situation is far from resolved. Governments jobs in the Middle East and $105 billion in GDP at risk. COVID-19 test certificates, including the technology framework for secure that have provided relief will need to be prepared for more. And governments “This is a unique situation. But we have good practices to rely on. Safety is the digital versions and the future incorporation of vaccination certificates pro- that have not yet stepped-up must recognize the growing risks to their econo- top priority for anything associated with aviation. That is because governments vides a global framework. Cooperation for a harmonized implementation mies as the crisis drags on,” said Al Awadhi.

Leisure travel to recover. Inset: Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market Domestic, short-haul travel to lead recovery ME leisure travel spend to pass pre-COVID levels

ccording to a recent YouGov survey, commissioned by , facilitate travel recovery, such as more widespread testing. ATM 2021’s strategic partners include ’s Department of Athe organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021, the amount of mon- “Leisure travel will lead the recovery, initially through domestic and short- and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) as Destination Partner, Emaar Hospital- ey that Middle East travellers spend on international leisure travel, will begin haul travel, which peaked by as much as 85% of all overnight arrivals in the ity Group as Official Hotel Partner and Emirates as Official Airline Partner. to exceed 2019 pre-COVID levels, in as little as three years. This is supported Middle East during 2020. This will gradually return to normal over the next Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world to visit with a wide range of by forecast analysis carried out by Tourism Economics (TE)*. four years at around 70%, as international travel becomes more popular and precautionary measures in place to ensure the safety of tourists at every stage “This is very encouraging,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, takes greater market share,” said Curtis. and touchpoint of their travel journey, from arrival to departure. Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market, which will take place in-person at the Dubai World In addition to our international participation, a whole host of exhibitors commitment to maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and safety and Trade Centre (DWTC) 16-19 May 2021. from the Middle East will be participating at ATM this year, including the its effective citywide management of the pandemic received a strong endorse- “In 2019, spending on international leisure travel in the Middle East was tourism boards from the UAE’s emirates with major exhibits from Dubai, ment from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which gave the significant, representing 47% of the total overall travel spend, compared with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Fujairah. There will also be city a ‘Safe Travels’ stamp. 37% spent on domestic leisure travel and 8% each on international and do- a variety of other ME exhibitors including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Saudi About Arabian Travel Week mestic business travel. Tourism Authority, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, SAUDIA, Arabian Travel Week is a festival of events taking place within and alongside “In 2020, spending on international leisure travel was only 20% of the Jordan Tourism Board, Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board, NEOM, Emaar Arabian Travel Market 2021. It includes ATM Virtual, ILTM Arabia, Arival amount spent a year earlier. However, this year, spending compared with Hospitality Group and Jumeirah International, amongst others. Dubai, the Travel Agents’ Academy, The ATM Influencers day, the Digital 2019, will recover to around 50%. It will increase to 75% in 2022 and 95% Now in its 28th year and working in collaboration with DWTC and Dubai’s Influencer Speed Networking and Travel Forward – a new travel tech and hos- in 2023, until 2024, when spending in this segment will exceed pre-COVID Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the theme of pitality innovation event launching this year. It also features the ATM Buyer levels by up to 10%,” added Curtis. ATM 2021 will be ‘A new dawn for travel and tourism’. Forums, ATM Speed Networking Events as well as The Saudi, India and China According to research by TE and its parent company Oxford Economics, the A comprehensive programme of seminars will explore the inevitable road Summits. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism vaccine rollout, pent up demand supported by high consumer savings, employ- to recovery by addressing the current state of the industry, examining emerg- sector, Arabian Travel Week will take place in Dubai from Sunday 16th to ment recovery and travel restrictions, will motivate the return to global econom- ing and how innovation technology, sustainability and engaging with Thursday 26th May 2021. www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html ic growth of 5.6% this year, the fastest economic recovery in 40 years. The total the next generation of global travellers, will drive the industry forward. About Reed Exhibitions Global contribution of the travel and tourism industry in 2019 accounted for 10.4% of In particular, a host of world-class technology experts are lined up to speak Reed Exhibitions is a leading global events business. It combines face-to- total GDP worldwide, highlighting its importance to the global economy. at the Travel Forward Theatre, providing industry-leading insights and dis- face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source In advanced economies, household savings rates have jumped from less cussing the latest technological advances and specifically how they will deter- products and complete transactions at over 400 events in 22 countries across than 10% of income prior to 2020, to a spike of 25% during lockdown, before mine the future direction of travel. 43 industry sectors, attracting more than 7 million participants. Our events dropping to just over 15% as restrictions were eased. ATM 2021 will also play an integral role in Arabian Travel Week and for leverage industry expertise, large data sets and technology to enable our cus- In terms of vaccine rollout, although distribution maybe uneven and there- the first time, a new hybrid format will be in place. This means an additional tomers to connect face-to-face or digitally and generate billions of dollars of fore inhibit some destinations from welcoming tourists, many popular leisure virtual ATM will be organised to run the following week, which will comple- revenues for the economic development of local markets and national econo- destinations such as the UAE, US, UK, Israel, Spain and Turkey aim to have ment the in-person event by accommodating visitors who may be unable to mies around the world. Reed Exhibitions is part of RELX, a global provider of up to 70% of their populations vaccinated before the end of 2021. Other mea- travel to Dubai. The inaugural ATM Virtual 2020 attracted 12,000 online at- information-based analytics for professional and business customers. www. sures will be necessary and are likely to be introduced in many destinations to tendees from 140 countries, over three days. reedexhibitions.com

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