Dubai, December 14, 2011: The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is hosting Dubai Tourism GCC Conference at The Meydan Hotel from December 14 to 16 to update the key decision-makers of travel trade from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman about growth opportunities and promote the destination among the Arabian Gulf region’s citizens and residents.
In his welcoming address to 150 participants, the DTCM Executive Director, Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, said the diversity of tourism products and high standards of hospitality services have made Dubai a sought-after business and leisure tourism destination for tourists from the near and far places.
The conference, he said, was part of DTCM’s efforts to enhance the knowledge of the industry professionals and update them about new developments and enhance the contribution of GCC travel trade professionals to the further success of Dubai. The conference will go a long way in expanding the intra-Gulf tourism and will see more GCC visitors coming to Dubai in the coming years, he added.
Hosting of a dedicated event for the GCC states signifies the importance DTCM attaches to these historically-strong markets for Dubai tourism industry and how these states will continue to make significant contribution in enhancing the position of Dubai tourism in the future, Mr. bin Mejren said.
Stating that Dubai was a unique destination with infinite sales opportunities, he said being knowledgeable about a destination helps travel trade professionals to become more persuasive when selling holidays and tour packages to potential customers.
Mr. bin Mejren said: “The conference will help the GCC travel industry to get themselves updated about the new and exciting developments in Dubai and become the strongest Dubai ambassadors. The growth in GCC visitors to Dubai over the years provides encouraging evidence that Dubai has what it takes to be a successful destination.”
In the first 9 months of this year, the number of Dubai hotel guests from GCC states was 1.1 million and this number will be increased by the end of this year and in the near future.
He said: “The stellar performance of Dubai’s tourism industry is a testimony to the aggressive promotional and marketing drive that the department has been pursuing to enhance the number of tourists to the destination by tapping established and emerging markets across the world. The impressive gains made during the January-September period this year also reflect the inspiring public-private sector partnership to tap the tourism potential of Dubai.”
Dubai hotels played host 6.64 million guests in the first three quarters of 2011, up by 11 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year. The guest nights rose by 26 per cent to reach 23.68 million, while the average length of stay increased by 14 per cent during the same period.
Revenues of hotels and hotel apartments increased by 19 per cent to cross the AED10.96 billion, with the share the revenues of hotels increasing by 20 per cent and that of hotel apartments by 13 per cent. The number of hotel establishments increased by one per cent to 573 while the total hotel rooms and flats jumped up by seven per cent to reach 73,522. The average occupancy levels of hotel room and flat increased by five and seven per cent, respectively, and stood at 72 per cent and 74 per cent, respectively.
The Dubai government has been working hard to support the travel industry through marketing activities and by constantly improving and enhancing the facilities and services that Dubai offers to visitors.
Over the past two decades, the DTCM launched several initiatives to broaden the appeal of the destination and created niche segments like MICE, Cruise, Leisure, Shopping and Sports.
Referring to cruise tourism, he said the Dubai Cruise Terminal, which opened in 2001, has remained a busy cruise tourism facility in the Middle East with 135 cruise ships docking at the terminal in 2011, bringing close to 375,000 tourists from different parts of the world. Next year, Dubai is hopeful of playing host to 425,000 cruise tourists and half a million cruise tourists by 2015.
He briefed the participants about the Guest Accommodation classification launched late last year as part of the efforts to raise the quality standards of hotels and hotel apartments’ services in the emirate.
Mr. bin Mejren said the ease of visa regulations between GCC countries for residents, an enhanced air connectivity, more value for money holiday options and a safe cosmopolitan city with the widest recreational and shopping options have made Dubai a real first choice destination.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials including DTCM Executive Director for Business Development and Media Relations, Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, and representatives of DTCM’s representative offices in Riyadh and Jeddah.
The participants will have the opportunity to explore the city and its tourist attractions, including the Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa and The Atlantis. They will also be participating in the ceremony to mark the maiden calls of two cruise ships docking in Dubai on December 15.
The conference co-participants include Lama Desert Tourism, Al Rais Tours and Travels, Gloria Hotel & Residences, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, Atlantis, The Palm, Alpha Tours, Carlton Tower Hotel, Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Citymax Hotels, Auris Hotels Management, Desert Palm Resort, Ramada Hotel Apartments – Downtown Burj Dubai, Tamani Hotels Marina, Costa Cruises, Oasis Beach Tower, Dubai Convention Bureau, Dubai Cruise Terminal, Grand Excelsior Hotel, Millennium Plaza Hotel, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Dubai Events & Promotions Establishment, Quality Tours, The Address Hotels and Resorts, Armani Hotel Dubai Burj Khalifa and Clover Creek Hotel Apartments.