14% growth in the number of Russian visitors to Dubai

Recovery in the value of the rouble in 2016 had led to 14 per cent growth in the number of Russian visitors last year bringing the total to 240,000. “The drivers include increasing supply, particularly from the mid-market segment and the continued lower purchasing power from key source markets [such as Russia and Europe],”  said Helal Almarri, the director general of Dubai Tourism.Rounding off the major regional contributors were Russia, CIS and Central European markets, accounting for circa five per cent (5%) of the overall tourism volumes to Dubai in 2016, led strongly by recoveries from both Russia and Ukraine.

The former delivered a particularly resilient comeback with 240,000 visitors, up fourteen per cent (14%) over 2015, and remains on a positive upward trajectory that is expected to spike now that Russia has become the latest entrant on the list of 47 countries exempted from UAE entry visa requirements, as of February 2017.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) released its annual visitor figures showing Dubai attracted 14.9 million overnight visitors in 2016, recording a healthy five per cent (5%) increase over 2015, and an impressive 4-year CAGR of eight per cent (8%) (2012-2016) since His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the 2020 tourism strategy.

The strong performance of the emirate’s tourism industry amidst a particularly turbulent year across the world assures progress towards not only the annual target of 20 million visitors by 2020, but also the increased sector-driven economic contribution to Dubai’s GDP.