‘Aviation sector plays key role in economic growth’

The fifth Arab Aviation and Media Summit (AAMS) concluded yesterday with speakers in broad agreement about the positive outlook for the Middle East’s aviation and tourism industry, despite the potential impact from a number of existing and emerging challenges. 

More than 200 industry leaders, government officials and journalists attended the 2015 conference, which was held in Manama this year in partnership with Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company.

The event began with a keynote address by Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, who highlighted the importance of investing in both infrastructure and talent to support growth.

The minister provided an update on the Bahrain International Airport modernisation programme, which is anticipated to act as a catalyst for further growth in passenger numbers, as well as the important role that the successful Bahrain International Airshow as played in developing the aviation sector. 

Other speakers and panelists included Hussain Dabbas, Regional Vice President, IATA; Abdelwahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO); Fouad Attar, Managing Director, Airbus Middle East; Ahmed Al Nemah, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication’s Acting Undersecretary for Civil Aviation Affairs Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Airport Company; Jerad Bachar, Executive Director Tourism & Leisure, Bahrain Economic Development Board; Omer Kaddouri, Chief Executive Officer & President, Rotana (UAE); Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia,  CAPA (India); Haitham Mattar, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (UAE); Andrew Gordon, Director Strategic Marketing & Analysis, Airbus; and Mario Segovia Sman, Head of Business Development MENA, Amadeus.

Among the themes emanating from the conference was the strategically important role that aviation and tourism continues to play in the ongoing development of Arab economies by creating employment, attracting visitors and helping to market cities and countries to overseas investors. 

There was broad consensus among participants that aviation and tourism are set for a period of sustained growth in the Middle East, driven particularly by internal demand and the growing importance of the neighbouring regions of Africa and Asia. 

However, some participants believe growth will be significantly higher if key issues such as infrastructure and regulatory constraints, environmental concerns, the slowdown in world trade, and the need to recruit tens of thousands of skilled professionals, are dealt with effectively. 

This year’s edition of the event also featured ‘The Little Engineer’ workshop, an edutainment workshop that aims at instilling a passion for science, technology and engineering among young nationals.