Latest


Dubai aims for 20mn tourists by 2020, India among top targets

  •   Mon, Jul 30 2018 06:07:31 PM

Kolkata, Jul 30 (IANS): Dubai is aiming for 20 million visitors from around the globe by 2020 and is heavily banking on tourists from India, which is currently the country's number one source market with 13 per cent of its total tourist share, a Dubai Tourism official said here on Monday.

"Our vision for year 2020 is to achieve 20 million visitors from all over the world. In terms of total tourist inflow in Dubai, we have reached the 16 million-mark in 2017. The Dubai Tourism is taking up multipronged strategies to grow that number," Khalid Al Awar, the manager of India and Pakistan International Operations for Dubai Tourism, said on the sidelines of a city roadshow event here.

"India is Dubai's number one source market in terms of visitors for the last two years. In 2017, we received 2.07 million visitors which is 13 per cent of the total international tourists in Dubai that year," he said.

The official said India is also at the top in terms of growth in the number of tourists on a yearly basis with an increase of 15 per cent in 2017.

"The growth that we see from India is massive. India has become a hotbed for other destinations as well, but Dubai has a very special relationship with India. The tourist inflow from 2016 to 2017 from India to Dubai increased by 15 per cent while the overall growth was 6-7 per cent," he said.

Pointing out that Dubai aims to become the biggest family tourism destination in the world, the official said the Tourism Department is taking certain initiatives like providing visa on arrival for the stopover visitors and waiving off visa charges for the minors.

"We are in the process to provide visa on arrival for those who stopover in Dubai for 48 hours. This will be implemented by the next couple of months. Our government is also planning to waive off visa fees for children below 18 years, who would come to Dubai between the months of July and September," he said.

Talking about the favoured tourist destinations in Dubai, the official said the visitors are going for the new and diverse attractions in the country, along with the iconic destinations like the desert, Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah.

"The newly launched theme parks in Dubai are gaining popularity. The 'Six Flags' which is a very famous adult targeted theme park with really exciting rides, is coming to Dubai. Also, there is the newly built 'Dubai Frame' that provides a bird's eye view of the old Dubai at one side and the new skyline of Dubai on the other," he said.

He also pointed out that Dubai is expecting big turnout from India during the Asia Cup cicket tournament in September this year that has the potential of having three India-Pakistan games and during the AFC Asian Cup football tournament where India will be participating.

The four city roadshows in India, having one of the biggest delegations from Dubai with 22 co-participants including airlines and hotel chains, kickstarted from Kolkata on Monday. The roadshows will also be held in Pune, Ahmadabad and Mumbai.
  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Max and Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore - Houston/Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

    Mon, Jul 30 2018

    To attract Travel and Tourism in any country at any part of the world requires multiple talents and open-minded attitude from the host country. They have to build a solid infrastructure first with best of roadways, best of transportation with best of airline connections, best of hotels and most importantly a friendly attitude from the host nation in order to attract tourists and airlines from all parts of the world to avail of the local facilities. The Sheikhdom of Dubai has always displayed all of the above under the leadership of late Shaikh Rashid, and now his son, Shaikh Mohamed bin Rashid.

    Tourism also generates all kinds of new ideas to imitate the rest of the world, and bring in attractive shopping facilities and merchandise so that more and more tourists visit the country and avail of all the privileges that are made readily available.

    India as a close ally and a good neighbor has always played an important role in the Shaikhdom of Dubai from the old days when Dubai was part of the Trucial States under the British protectorate. People of India have willingly poured into Dubai and given their very best of services for the welfare and upkeep of Dubai. Hundreds of thousands of Indians from all walks of life have been welcomed into Dubai where they have made a "home away from home" in Dubai. Honest work and hard work of India has contributed a great deal for the welfare and success of Dubai. It has become a "mutual benefit" for both India and Dubai where Indians have proved themselves as trustworthy expatriates making Dubai as an ideal "International" City.

    More and more tourists will continue to travel in and around Dubai for business, trade and tourism. May this trend continue to flourish in Dubai, and may the cordial relations between Dubai and India continue to prevail.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Dubai aims for 20mn tourists by 2020, India among top targets



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like