Dubai rated among top tourist destinations

Dubai, April 25, 2012 (WAM) - Dubai continues to register a strong growth in the tourism industry and is rated to be among the top destinations globally and this is evident from the emirate’s hotel occupancy levels and average revenue per room (RevPAR) for the month of January 2012, according to statistics from the STR Global report of Top 15 destinations according to a report in "The Gulf Today." At the same time, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) will be showcasing Dubai’s ever-enhancing appeal as a year-round business and leisure destination to the world during the forthcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012 event slated to start from April 30 to May 3 in Dubai. ATM which will be hosted at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) is regarded as one of the biggest travel and tourism exhibition in the world. Speaking to "The Gulf Today" on Tuesday, DTCM Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, Saleh Al Geziry said DTCM will be utilising the opportunity to promote and market various initiatives like New Hotel Classification, Definitely Dubai, Dubai Experts and Dubai Green Tourism Award during the four day event. He also disclosed that Dubai tourism industry had registered a robust growth in 2011 and also in the first quarter of 2012. “Dubai has further consolidated its position on the world tourism map with its hotels and hotel apartments posting impressive all-round performance in hotel guest numbers, cruise passengers, revenues, guest nights and average length of stay,” explained Al Geziry. Statistics indicate that the emirate hosted 9.3 million hotel guests and cruise passengers in 2011, up by 10 per cent compared with the previous year’s 8.49 million. Guest nights rose to 32,848,190 in 2011, an increase of 23 per cent compared with the previous year. Revenues of hotels and hotel apartments increased by 20 per cent to touch Dhs. 16 billion. The director said that DTCM will also be conducting its Hosted Buyer programme as part of its efforts to provide fruitful networking and business opportunities for the travel trade decision-makers of Dubai and other parts of the world. This year’s show will see Hosted Buyers organised by the department in coordination with its network of 18 Overseas Offices. DTCM’s participation will be much bigger as the Dubai Stand measures 1195 square meters and will have 183 co-participants, an increase of four per cent over the previous edition. He said the department has intensified its efforts to build on the success achieved last year through a variety of measures, including enhanced networking with the travel and tourism industry in different parts of the world with the help of the network of 18 overseas representative offices operated by the DTCM. The marketing and promotion drive for the year started in Australia and New Zealand which promises to yield significant results in the remainder of the year and beyond, said the director The department plans to participate in over 25 major travel and tourism exhibitions across the world in addition to holding Dubai workshops in 10 countries during this year. – The Gulf Today