Dubai continuing to attract tourists

The United Arab Emirates is still proving to hold strong in the economic downturn with Dubai announcing year-on-year increases on their visitor numbers. Dubai is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations with the majority of its visitors coming from the UK and Ireland. Almost two million visitors travelled to the Arab state in April to June of this year, which is a four per cent increase on the same time last year, and 10.6 per cent of the holidaymakers came from the UK and Ireland.

Dubai is one of the first countries to announce an increase in visitors since the economic crisis that has gripped the world. Beach resorts in the emirate are reporting 90 per cent occupancy rates for August and 2009 has followed in the record breaking wake of 2008 for its tourism figures.

“The Government of Dubai has reacted quickly and appropriately with high profile advertising campaigns, tactical promotional activity, as well as travel trade familiarisation trips, sales incentives and educational events so that Dubai remains front of mind,” said Ian Scott, UK and Ireland director for Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

The DTCM have launched a Kids Go Free campaign that will start in September and various other incentives to continue to attract visitors to this lucrative part of the world.