Arabian Travel News editor Monika Canty Arabian Travel News editor Monika Canty

After the year we’ve just had, who would dare to hazard a guess what lies ahead in 2012...

As the voice of the Middle East travel trade, we want to hear your news and views. 
Email the editor at monika.canty@itp.com

Trying to come up with predictions about what may be in store for the travel sector in the year ahead is always a traditional way to kick off our first edition of the year at Arabian Travel News.

This month we’ve asked 11 experts from across the industry to look back on their highs and lows of 2011 and try to make some guesses about what lies ahead. But one thing that’s come across is how futile crystal ball gazing probably is these days.

Looking back on the past year there's no way anyone could have predicted the dramatic and unforeseen events that resulted in having such a massive impact on the international world of travel.

The protests, conflicts and revolutions in Arab countries at the start of the year that brought tourism to a virtual standstill in some parts of the region (while conversely having the complete opposite effect on destinations such as the UAE viewed as ‘safe
havens’); the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan; the Eurozone debt crisis and the political and economic dramas in Greece, then Italy — these were just some of the top stories in a year full of headline grabbing news — all of which have led to me
conclude that what might happen this year could be anyone's guess.

But despite the trepidation in the air about what may or may not be in store; there are many reasons to be cheerful and optimistic about the regional travel sector.  The continued expansion of the region's airlines means new destinations and new markets continue to open up.

Forecasters are particularly excited about the remarkable growth of Chinese travellers and welcome them with open arms.

And local travel firms say they are finally getting to grips with the technology revolution. We anticipate that 2012 will be the year when we finally witness new online booking channels and a push from the regional travel sector to move ahead with long awaited technology developments.

And they are not the only ones. Arabian Travel News is not being left behind — this year will see the magazine launch our very own dedicated website just for you. So look out for that, as if nothing else it's sure to be the highlight of the year ahead.