Announcements at ATM 2015 unveil continual enhancements to Dubai’s destination offering

Announcements at ATM 2015 unveil continual enhancements to Dubai’s destination offering

A series of key announcements at this year’s Arabian Travel Market demonstrate strong continued growth in tourism within Dubai says Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism).

Issam Kazim CEO of Dubai Tourism said: “The scale, diversity and quality of what is to come clearly indicates the confidence that the industry has in Dubai – from both homegrown and international tourism stakeholders - and demonstrates why the city saw an 8.2 per cent year-on-year growth in visitor numbers last year, bringing the total to 13.2 million in 2014.”

Aviation

Underpinning this confidence was the announcement by Dubai Airports that the existing passenger terminal at Dubai’s second airport, Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC), is being expanded to boost the current capacity of six million passengers a year to 26 million by 2018. Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of Q1 2017 with this expansion a precursor to the $32bn expansion project announced last September to create the world’s biggest airport with an ultimate capacity in excess of 200 million passengers per year.

In addition, Dubai Airports released its latest figures showing a 6.8 per cent increase in passenger traffic to 19,606,327 at Dubai International airport (DXB) during the first three months of 2015 compared to the same period the previous year, indicating that the airport is on track to beat its 70.5 million passenger figure enjoyed in 2014, which made it officially the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, serving 140 airlines to over 260 destinations, across six continents.

“With over two-thirds of the world’s population living within eight hours flying time from Dubai and one-third within four hours, connectivity is one of Dubai’s key strategic advantages,” said Kazim. “News of further expansion will mean Dubai will cement its place as a world-leading hub capable of handling even more passengers with ease and preparing its infrastructure to handle any future developments in aircraft development. Already Emirates is the largest operator of the Airbus A380.”

Access

As well as connectivity, accessibility is another of the emirate’s selling points. “Connectivity and accessibility go hand in hand,” said Kazim. “Citizens from a total of 46 countries are now able to obtain a visa on arrival, boosted by the March 2014 addition of 13 EU member states to the existing 15 member states already eligible.  These changes, along with new flights to Eastern Europe by both Emirates and flydubai, are already coming to fruition,” he said.

In the past year visitors from EU states Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, for example, are up by 104 per cent, 86 per cent and 64 per cent respectively.

Cruising

Improved connectivity and accessibility to Dubai is also being enjoyed by the rising number of cruise passengers coming to the emirate.

At this year’s ATM, Qatar Tourism Authority, along with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, joined the existing members - Dubai Tourism, Oman Tourism and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority - of the Cruise Arabia Alliance.

“Dubai welcomes the growth of this alliance,” said Kazim. “It’s a perfect example of co-operation between regional neighbours driving growth in intra-regional tourism and, while the GCC and MENA region already accounts for over 30 per cent of Dubai’s total number of visitors, there is still much potential to be had.”

Overall, owing in part to the opening of Dubai’s third cruise terminal in December 2014, Dubai expects to welcome 425,000 passengers in 2015, a 30 per cent increase over the previous year.

“The new cruise terminal is a major development that will help us to capitalize on the growing cruise market and, along with new hotels, attractions and tours, significantly enhances the city’s destination offering, many of which we have seen announced at this year’s Arabian Travel Market,” said Kazim.

Attractions

The layout of LEGOLAND Dubai, part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, was unveiled at the show – as a 3D map built out of 150,000 LEGO bricks. Set to open in October 2016 as part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, The park spans 3 million square feet and features over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions and 15,000 LEGO model structures made from more than 60 million LEGO bricks. Located close to the Palm Jebel Ali, the Park becomes the Middle East’s first LEGOLAND, and the seventh in the world.

Operated by Merlin Entertainment, the multi-themed Dubai Parks and Resorts complex in Jebel Ali will also include Motiongate Dubai and Bollywood Parks Dubai, connected by the retail and entertainment walkway Riverland Dubai, as well as the Lapita Hotel, a Polynesian-themed resort under the Starwood brand.

Hotels

Meanwhile, among the list of hoteliers announcing new openings in the emirate, Four Seasons unveiled its plans to open its second hotel in Dubai; developer Nakheel announced its partnership with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts to open on the future Deira Islands; Melia is to open in Dubai’s Downtown and InterContinental cited its plan to open Dubai’s first fully solar-powered hotel.

Currently, Dubai has 93,030 hotel keys (January 2015), and that figure is forecast to rise to 140,000 - 160,000 keys by 2020. While five-star hotels and deluxe apartments comprise 22% of total accommodation in the emirate, Dubai Tourism is encouraging growth in its mid-market hotel sector. Of the additional keys, it is predicted that around 20,000-35,000 will be from the mid-market hotel sector.

It was encouraging therefore to see the presence of a number of mid-market hotel brands exhibiting at this year’s ATM with Starwood announcing its plan to open its mid-market brand Aloft. With its tagline ‘Style at a Steal’ the property will open around the EXPO site, Dubai World Central in 2018.

Other mid-market brands on show at ATM included Rove Hotels, partnership between Dubai companies, Emaar Hospitality Group and Meraas Holdings. Billed as a mid-market lifestyle hotel brand, six properties will open across Dubai before 2020, including Rove Za’abeel later this year. Fellow Dubai brand Jumeirah were also present at the show promoting its first mid-market brand Venu, the first property of which is planned for Meraas’ Bluewaters Island, off the coast of Dubai Marina.

Hilton was also present following the news that it too is entering Dubai’s mid-market hotel sector with its recently announced partnership with the UAE-based Wasl Hospitality and Leisure group to introduce the mid-market Hampton by Hilton to Dubai and the Middle East. The agreement will see the opening of Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Qusais and Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Al Garhoud in 2017, adding more than 550 guest rooms to the inventory. Prior to this, two Hilton Garden Inn properties will open in Dubai later this year, with a third slated for opening at Mall of the Emirates in 2016.

Tours

Enhancing Dubai’s tourism offering was also evident at ATM by a number of tour operators announcing new experiences. Foremost was Alpha Destination Management with the launch of its Gourmet Bus. Claiming to be a ‘world-first’, guests will climb on board as of next month and enjoy five-star cuisine as they tour the sights of the city.

“It is innovations like this that ensure Dubai remains fresh and exciting,” said Dubai Tourism’s Kazim. “We are delighted to have seen so many projects announced at the show by hoteliers, developers and operators of attractions and tours. As key drivers of tourism in Dubai we encourage and support the private sector to thrive, innovate and grow and this has been clearly evident at this year’s Arabian Travel Market,” he concluded.

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

With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (DTCM) mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai to global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the Emirate.

DTCM 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 DTCM 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, DTCM operates 20 offices worldwide.

Visitor figures

Dubai Tourism released its inaugural Dubai Annual Visitor Report at Arabian Travel Market 2015 showing 8.2 per cent year-on-year growth in visitor numbers, bringing the total to 13.2 million. Differing from previously announced statistics on guests staying at Dubai’s hotel establishments, the figure is a measure of all international visitors travelling to Dubai and staying for at least one night, in hotel accommodation and holiday rentals, with friends and relatives, and on board cruise ships.