Dubai ATM 2026 Fair Opens Its Doors

Postponed twice due to regional conflicts and delays, the Arabian Travel Market 2026 has started at the Dubai World Trade Centre. At the fair, where participation has dropped, Turkish tourism professionals consider the prevailing unease as an opportunity to strengthen their position in the market.

The Fair Starting in Dubai

Originally planned for May, but postponed first to August and then to September due to war, the Arabian Travel Market 2026 opened its doors to visitors at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event, which will continue until September 17, brought together the global tourism sector following geopolitical tensions and transportation disruptions.

Drop in Participation Numbers

The fair was observed to be quieter compared to previous years, with a noticeable decrease in the number of participants. While 19 companies took part in the Turkey pavilion, sector professionals reported that the fair has lost about 60-70 percent of its strength and that some regular participants remained hesitant due to security concerns.

Bartın's Promotion at the Fair

Taking part in the fair to promote the tourism potential of the Western Black Sea region, Bartın aims to attract tourists from the Gulf and Middle East markets. Bartin Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Ozlem Kocak and AK Party Bartin Deputy Yusuf Ziya Aldatmaz stated that visitor expectations for the fair had declined due to the postponements.

Tourism Professionals' Opportunity Assessment

Tourism representatives stated that the existing unease and low participation could be turned into an advantage for Turkish tourism. Lazzoni Hotel General Manager Gurhan Sayar and Mercan Tourism Client Director Omer Agaoglu drew attention to the shrinkage in the fair and the effects of the date changes.