The UAE is one of the key target markets for an upcoming travel, holiday and lifestyle event in Dubai, which seeks to capitalise on the country’s $6.6 billion outbound travel market.

The second edition of World Discovery Fest has been scheduled to run from May 31 to June 2 at the Dubai International Marine Club in Mina Sehayi.

The World Discovery Fest’s new venue also brings the event to the heart of the central business district of New Dubai and within the vicinity of over 400,000 residents and tourists, who are all part of the target audience of the exhibition.

Organised by the International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), World Discovery Fest 2012 will introduce a wide selection of innovative holiday offerings and schemes in the region’s tourism industry.

Special segments for Holiday Homes, Wedding & Honeymoon Travel, Loyalty Programmes and The Cruise Show will also debut this year at World Discovery Fest.

Anselm Godinho, managing director, IC&E, said: “World Discovery Fest 2012 has become more diverse with its focussed tourism and travel packages and its move to a new home at the Dubai International Marine Club complements the event’s stature as the region’s definitive showcase of the world’s most exotic and captivating holiday destinations.”

World Discovery Fest 2012 will include a focus on luxurious and fine “holiday homes”, which offer high-dividend investment opportunities for high-end buyers.

The Wedding & Honeymoon Travel segment targets couples who set aside a chunk of their finances towards exotic and romantic getaways to kick-start their future, while The Cruise Show is dedicated to cruise operators seeking to increase their market share by engaging directly with an affluent captive audience.

The Loyalty Programmes provide tools for exhibitors to enhance their brands and reinforce their presence in the regional and local markets.

The event will also be showcasing exciting offers from airlines, education travel, spas and resorts, sports and adventure holidays, excursions and holiday packages, overland and inland travel, shopping holidays, and theme parks.

“World Discovery Fest has received a very enthusiastic response from our target audiences, particularly exhibitors who are eager to capitalise on the enormous growth potential of the region as a global tourism and travel market,” Godinho said.

“The UAE presents exciting business opportunities for tourism and travel companies, as recent statistics indicate that the country spends billions of dollars annually on outbound travel alone. By providing a dedicated and conducive networking platform for all market players, World Discovery Fest enhances the business potential of tourism and travel companies, while making it a lot easier for holidaymakers to choose from a comprehensive selection of the best travel destinations in the world,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service