Region’s largest trade venue welcomes 3.3 million delegates and attendees, up 9% on previous year. Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) has announced its 2017 results, which overshot the 3 million visitor milestone for the second consecutive year.

Welcoming a record 3.3 million delegates and attendees in 2017, up 9 percent from the previous year, the region’s largest trade venue hosted 353 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and business events.

DWTCA said the year-on-year footfall increase was driven by the calendar’s ability to attract high quality visitors, delegates and attendees from 185 countries – and participating exhibitors with 56,360 exhibiting companies from 154 countries.

With 39,202 exhibitors from overseas markets, DWTC registered a 10 percent increase in this base over 2016 on the back of proven participant ROI for foreign firms, it added.

International participation also posted a steady increase, as DWTC hosted over 1.1 million foreign business travellers in 2017, representing 42 percent of overall participant volumes and 6 percent annual growth.

China, Germany and Turkey made their debut in the top 10 source markets, while dominant mainstays Saudi Arabia, India, Oman, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Iran and Egypt, completed the list of top 10 business visitor markets.

“The strong increase in the number of key MICE and business events reflect sectors that are strategically aligned with Dubai Plan 2021 and the goals of building an innovation-led economy that contributes to the development of the UAE and Dubai,”

said Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

— Post from arabianbusiness.com