5 Burning Questions Skift Global Forum East 2024 Will Seek to Answer

Skift Global Forum East returns to Dubai next month — a chance for professionals in travel to meet, network, and, most importantly, find out what’s really going on.

As a journalist who lives and was born in the United Arab Emirates, I know the Middle East has no shortage of tourism success stories, but reporting on them can be challenging as the same narratives get repeated. That won’t happen at our event.

Bringing together some of the region’s most powerful leaders, Skift doesn’t just give speakers a podium to pitch their brands – we use their expertise to find out what is next in travel.

Here are five burning questions I have for our array of speakers.

1. What’s Dubai’s Next Move?

By now, everyone knows the travel behemoth that is Dubai: With a world-class airline in Emirates, more luxury hotels than just about any other city, and a tourism authority fixated on bleeding-edge innovation.

What we want to know is, what’s next? Where does Dubai go from here? Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Tourism will be on stage with Skift CEO and founder Rafat Ali to discuss the evolution of Dubai and how it can stay on top while the world around it is changing so rapidly.

2. Where Is Luxury Really Heading?

Luxurious bedsheets and large swimming pools don’t cut it anymore. The highest-spending travelers want something more, and the Middle East is waking up to that, offering cooler, trendier five-star stays.

Mark Hoplamazian CEO and president of Hyatt will speak to this – as his group is currently on a luxury and leisure bull run in the Middle East with development deals being signed across Saudi and the wider region seemingly every month.

Dillip Rajakarier CEO at Minor Hotels and Group CEO of Minor International is also set to speak about the future of his group towards becoming a leader in luxury, and exactly what that will look like.

3. How Do We Make The Most of India’s Tourism Boom?

A joke among those living in Dubai is that Dubai is one of the best cities in India, the point being that the relationship between the two destinations is so strong that it might as well be.

India has long been Dubai’s largest market for tourism, and neighbor states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been making ground in capturing more Indian business as well.

Aloke Singh, CEO of Air India Express will discuss the journey to becoming a leading carrier in the rapidly expanding Indian travel market, along with his insights on the key challenges and opportunities for attracting Indian tourists in the future.

4. Just What is Happening With the Entertainment Sector?

Party hotels, Formula 1 tracks, an Abu Dhabi Sphere. The entertainment sector in the UAE and surrounding region is transforming at a rapid pace. It is without question one of the hottest trends in travel, but one that is seldom spoken about in this part of the world.

Skift is looking to change that with its “How Entertainment is Driving Tourism’s Future” panel discussion.

5. Is The Middle East Still Strong?

It’s no secret that the wider Middle East is experiencing a crisis. Wars are taking place, and executives in the region have openly said it is having an impact on business in the Gulf.

Lina Annab, Minister of Tourism & Antiquities for Jordan, will speak about how the country is keeping its tourism arm agile, and of course, how it is succeeding amid all the tensions surrounding it. Varsha Arora Varsha Arora, Skift Senior Research Analyst, will also give a presentation on the current state of Middle East travel and tourism, which should not be missed.