Travelport and EVA Air have renewed and expanded their multi-year distribution agreement to include EVA Air’s future New Distribution Capability (NDC) content and servicing.
As part of this new deal, Travelport customers will have continued access to EVA Air’s extensive global travel content through the Travelport+ platform, delivering a complete NDC solution which will provide Travelport’s global network of travel agencies the ability to easily compare, book and service all of EVA Air’s content.
“By continuing our successful collaboration with Travelport, we can further expand our global reach and provide our customers with more convenient and personalised travel experiences,” said Eric Chiu, vice president, digital and information planning, EVA Air.
This strategic partnership has been instrumental in connecting travellers to EVA Air’s extensive network of destinations, which will continue to expand and evolve.
Ailsa Brown, head of air partners, Asia-Pacific, Travelport, said: “This new agreement reaffirms our commitment to providing EVA Air with best-in-class merchandising technology solutions, access to a broader customer demographic and ensures that retailers are able to provide travellers with unparalleled service.”
The 2024 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will return to Dubai from May 6 to 9 with the theme, Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship.
Attendees will consider how the segments of leisure, business, luxury and MICE are driving economic growth and sustainable development across destinations, hospitality and aviation, creating fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors from across the Middle East and beyond.
Danielle Curtis, ATM’s exhibition director, said: “Holidaymakers represent a crucial focus for the Middle East’s travel community, but leisure is only one component of a much bigger picture. Business, luxury and MICE travel are also making significant contributions to economic growth and sustainable development, with Statista predicting a global market volume of more than US$1 trillion by 2027.
“It is therefore no surprise that the travel and tourism sector is creating unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, thousands of whom will showcase their innovations, exchange ideas and forge new partnerships at ATM 2024,” she added.
The travel and tourism sector is on course to contribute US$49.18 billion to the UAE economy alone in 2023, according to figures released by the WTTC. This figure is predicted to reach US$64.12 billion by 2033, accounting for an impressive 10.2 per cent of the nation’s GDP.
As the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry continues to mature, it is expected to create new jobs and income for millions of people from across the globe. The UAE Government, for instance, estimates that the country’s travel and tourism market will support 770,000 jobs by 2027. At the same time, the sector is expected to generate ever-increasing revenues for regional economies – Gulf travellers spending approximately 6.5 times more than tourists from other parts of the world, according to the UN Tourism.
Sustainable development will represent another key focus at ATM 2024. Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism (DET), ATM’s Destination Partner, will showcase its ongoing efforts to protect the environment and secure a greener and more sustainable future for the emirate.