Tourism Growing Like Arabian Night Tale

15 Feb 2013

Arabian tourism is growing like a tale in the Arabian Nights. Duty-free Dubai is already an Arabian Nights story, and the UAE is closely following it in the footsteps of the sister Emirate. 

Along with Dubai, the whole of the United Arab Emirates is pegging its tourism targets much higher. Having received as many as 10 million visitors in 2012, the UAE as a whole is working toward $7.5b tourism revenue by 2016. That is a growth target of 67% from the present level just 2 years hence. The target is claimed to be achievable provided there is a rollback of 41% investment into the sector.

“The UAE’s tourism map is now incredibly diverse. Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are building on their own cultural foundations to present a series of unique individual products that, together with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, position the country as a cohesive hospitality hub, with varied appeal,” Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, has said. Reed Travel is organizing the Arabian Travel Market, or ATM, 2013.

The road show series concluded in Dubai recently after two weeks of educational seminars in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon and Oman.

The road show in Dubai was the largest event with 140 delegates attending it. The UAE tourism receipts are now forecast to surge over the next few years. Whatever recession may have done to the rest of the world, the Gulf region is entering a new era of stability and increased connectivity and expansion.