DTCM and Dubai partners host 100 Travel Agents from Germany for a 4-day mega fam-trip
Dubai 12 June 2013 *** Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and a range of partners from across the city’s tourism industry has shown 100 German travel agents why Dubai is the perfect summer destination, during a four day ‘mega’ familarisation trip (7th – 10th June).
Organised to promote Dubai’s destination credentials to key travel agents and tour operators from one of the Emirate’s biggest source markets, the itinerary highlighted Dubai as a perfect destination for a multitude of travelers including families, thrill seekers, couples, shopaholics, food lovers, and culture enthusiasts. The guests had the opportunity to see Dubai from Burj Khalifa’s ‘At the Top’; to shop at ‘Dubai Mall’; to enjoy pure winter fun at ‘Ski Dubai’; and to explore the water world of ‘Aquaventure’ at Atlantis, The Palm.
During a workshop – held at Atlantis, The Palm – representatives from DTCM and key partners from Dubai’s hotel and tourism industry provided detailed information and updates on Dubai through a number of talks and presentations. This included a briefing on ‘Summer is Dubai’, the three month campaign which is currently attracting visitors to the Emirate through a series of festivals, special occasions and celebrations that are central to Dubai’s annual summer season.
Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions for DTCM commented: “Throughout the year, through our network of 19 overseas offices DTCM organises familiarisation trips with major tour operators from various global markets in order to further understanding of Dubai’s wide and substantial tourism offering. The fam-trips are an effective way of building relationships with key influencers in the industry and increasing their knowledge of and affection for the Emirate. Germany is one of our key source markets and this fam-trip focused on educating German travel agents on Dubai’s new attractions and, in particular, its appeal as a summer destination.”
The number of visitors from Germany in 2012 was almost 315,000 – a 14% increase from the 2011 figure of 275,000 – making it the most important source market in Central Europe for Dubai. It’s also an important market for the cruise sector: in the year 2012 68,000 German cruise passengers visited the emirate.
The agents were chosen from the readership of the leading German travel trade publication TRAVEL ONE, following a competition organized by DTCM’s Germany office in the magazine.
Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry continued: “The demand from travel agents across Germany to be part of this familiarisation trip was very high, indicating the continuing interest in Dubai from the country. Their feedback during the trip was very positive, with many commenting that it had transformed their view of Dubai as a summer destination. Feedback from our partners who helped us to stage the event and took part in the presentations was also very positive, with them forecasting many upcoming deals with the agents.”
With The Address Hotels & Resorts and JA Resorts & Hotels supporting the famtrip, agents enjoyed their stay at world class luxury hotels including Ocean View Hotel and Oasis Beach Tower by JA Resorts & Hotels and The Address Downtown Residence, The Address Dubai Mall Residence, Armani Hotel and Al Manzil Hotel by The Address Hotels & Resorts.
Lunches and dinners at The Address Hotels & Resorts, Jebel Ali Beach Hotel, Atlantis, The Palm and Rixos The Palm helped to showcase the emirate’s diverse culinary scene and as the Destination Management Company of the event, Gulf Ventures provided logistical support.
This mega familiarisation trip came soon after last month’s famil-trip when DTCM and Emirates hosted 280 travel agents from Australia and New Zealand.
QUOTES FROM PARTICIPANTS
Doris Schmitzberger, owner of Reisen-Schmitzberger in Munich said that she has visited Dubai four times with the most recent being two years ago. Despite the short period of time, she has witnessed a huge change in city infrastructure and monuments, and said that it is a miracle to see so many new hotels and attractions added during these two years.
Frank Bokenkroger, owner of Aster Reise Service in Munster said that it was his second visit to Dubai and since his first visit 15 years ago he was astonished to witness such a huge difference with amazing attractions such as Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Atlantis – a difference you can’t find in any other city in the world.
Steffi Breternitz, Senior Project Manager at BCD Travel Groups in Frankfurt, said that this is his second visit to Dubai, with the last being five years ago and that during the visit he explored the city’s new infrastructure and landmarks including the Dubai Metro and the amazing Burj Khalifa and the Downtown, Atlantis and the Palm. He was truly amazed at the changed in infrastructure and new landmarks Dubai has added in the past five years.
He also commented that Dubai is one of the most sought-after and fastest growing destinations worldwide, attracting a large segment of vistors over the past few years and that meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism has gained momentum worldwide and more. He concluded his statement saying that he noticed that people in Dubai always have smiles on their faces no matter from which nation, culture or religion they are from and that this is something unusual, not found elsewhere in the world.
Marco Greiner from Novo Tours said that this was his first visit to the city and, having read many books about Dubai and heard so much about the city that he was thrilled to see the amazing city. He commented that when it comes to shopping malls, Dubai is a leading shopping and lifestyle destination and that he found the collection of luxury hotels, the Dubai Metro, the Palm, and Burj Khalifa unbelievable. He added that the visit was the best trip he’d been on and that he would certainly promote Dubai once he was back in Germany and persuade German tourists to visit Dubai during summer.
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