The 5th Arab Aviation and Media Summit (AAMS) concluded yesterday with speakers in broad contract about the favorable outlook for the Middle East's aeronautics and tourist industry, in spite of the prospective impact from a number of existing and emerging obstacles.

More than 200 industry leaders, government officials and reporters participated in the 2015 conference, which this year was held in Manama in collaboration with Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company.

The occasion began with a keynote address from His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kingdom of Bahrain, who highlighted the value of buying both infrastructure and talent to support growth. His Excellency provided an upgrade on the Bahrain International Airport modernization programme, which is anticipated to act a catalyst for additional growth in traveler numbers, s well as the vital function that the effective Bahrain International Airshow has actually played in establishing the aeronautics sector.

Other speakers and panelists included Hussain Dabbas, Regional Vice President, IATA; Abdelwahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO); Fouad Attar, Managing Director, Airbus Middle East; Ahmed Al Nemah, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication's Acting Under Secretary for Civil Aviation Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain; 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 originating from the conference was the strategically essential role that aeronautics and tourist continue to play in the continuous advancement of Arab economies by developing employment, attracting visitors and helping to market cities and nations to overseas financiers.

There was broad agreement among individuals that aviation and tourist are set for a duration of sustained development in the Middle East, driven specifically by internal demand and the growing importance of the neighbouring regions of Africa and Asia. Some participants think growth will be considerably higher if key concerns such as infrastructure and regulatory constraints, environmental concerns, the downturn in world trade, and the requirement to hire tens of thousands of proficient specialists, are dealt with effectively.

This year's edition of the event likewise included 'The Little Engineer' workshop, an edutainment workshop that aims to impart an interest for science, innovation and engineering among young nationals, as well as an unique IMAX screening of 'Living in the age of planes' a National Geographic production documentary film. Both were supported by Airbus and Air Arabia.

The AAMS is industry-led effort supported by organisations consisting of Airbus Middle East, Air Arabia Group, CFM, Amadeus, Alpha Aviation and ITP Group, to name a few. The occasion is kept in a different Arab city each year with information of the next host city scheduled to be revealed in mid-2016.