PRESS RELEASE

Dubai welcomes 1,000 delegates from 24 countries to experience the emirate’s dynamic tourism industry in Q4, 2016

Top travel industry professionalsand conference organisers experienced an expanded destination offering during 10 familiarization trips organised by Dubai Tourism

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 28December 2016: Dubaiwelcomed almost 1,000 travel industry professionals and conference organisers from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East during the final quarter of this year to showcase the emirate’s impressive range of tourism offerings, through a series of familiarisation trips organized by Dubai Tourism.

The familiarisation trips highlight the organisations commitment to promoting new leisure experiences such as Dubai Opera, IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Parks and Resorts in key international markets. Delegates visited from a range of markets, including: Brazil, China, Commonwealth of Independent States, Czech Republic, Egypt,France, Hungary,India,Indonesia,Iran, Malaysia,Poland,Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Turkey.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said:“It’s been an exceptional year for Dubairegarding the colourful spectrum of new tourism offerings available for visitors. We are excited by the prospect of finishing on a high note and engaging with the international travel industry on a truly global scale. The familiarisation trips represent a fantastic opportunity for delegates to experience our new leisure and family attractions for the first time, while witnessing how they’re contributing to the wider business environment.

“These trips are vital as we work towards our goals of achieving 20 million visitors a year by 2020, and fostering strong relationships between the Dubai tourism industry and travel agents, tour operators and conference organisers around the world. Our success is based on strong involvement from local stakeholders, such as Emirates, the hotel community and Destination Management Companies who continue to show unwavering support in pursuit of our shared vision.”

As part of the schedule of familiarisation trips, Dubai hosted several specific groups from the emerging economies ofBrazil and China, with Sino-UAE relations benefiting from visas on arrivalbetween both countriesas part of our initiative to strengthen bilateral ties. The city also hostedhigh-level conference planners and association executives as part of the 2016 BestCities Global Forum which was organized in partnership with the BestCities Alliance, an international network of convention bureausconnecting11 meeting destinations, unified by a commitment to deliver exceptional standards.

As a city, Dubai recently celebrated its 100,000 hotel room milestone. The increase of hotel rooms will not only ensure that a larger number of rooms are available for the inflow of visitors and group travellers, but will also contribute to Dubai’s effort as it continues to add both mid-market and luxury hotel offerings to its hotels industry.

- ends -

About Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism)

With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai Tourism’s mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate.

Dubai Tourism is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s tourism sector. It markets and promotes the Emirate’s commerce sector, and is responsible for the licensing and classification of all tourism services, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Brands and departments within the Dubai Tourism portfolio include Dubai Convention and Events Bureau, Dubai Calendar, and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (formerly known as Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment). In addition to its headquarters in Dubai, Dubai Tourism operates 20 offices worldwide.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Dubai Tourism

[+971] 600 55 5559

[+971] 4 201 0491