Shaikh Sultan, who, inaugurated the second edition of  Gulf Incentives, Business, Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), in the capital,  stressed the importance of involving the private sector to revitalise the tourism sector in the emirate and the role of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority in supporting partnership between public and private sectors in achieving the desired goals of the tourism development strategy.

He said that GIBTM  have a major catalytic impact on the development of the Emirate and the region's MICE tourism sector in 2008.

The  ADTA  chairman pointed out that Business and MICE Tourism is one of the most lucrative and high-growth segments in the global tourism industry, as well as having spin-off benefits in terms of international destination branding and facilitating

overall trade and commercial linkages.

All indicators, he said, show that the future of Business and MICE Tourism has a chance of real success and that it is due to play a major role in the overall transformation of the Emirate into a leading tourism destination.

Abu Dhabi hosted more than 197 international companies that attended the last year's event. He said there has been a substantial increase this year in the number of participating companies which stands at 215 from 50 countries.

The feedback from both exhibitors and attendees to GIBTM has been very positive; both in terms of increased international interest in Abu Dhabi and the Gulf region as a MICE destination, as well as towards the positioning of GIBTM as a major event on the global MICE industry calendar.

Shaikh Sultan emphasised that GIBTM provides a major platform in developing international networking and strengthening strategic partners at both regional and international levels.

Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan expected further growth in the number of tourists arriving in Abu Dhabi. The years 2008 and 2009, he said, will see the completion of a large proportion of infrastructure dedicated to the tourism sector in the Emirate.

Abu Dhabi is already a world-renowned tourist destination, as evidenced by the activities of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and its partners which play a major role in boosting tourism in the Emirate, contribute in promoting the integration of all departments and institutions in Abu Dhabi and consolidate cooperation in order to activate the tourism sector as well as  strive to achieve its development in compliance with the Abu Dhabi Government's objectives to tap the tourism potential.