Dubai won top laurels at the 5th Global Travel and Tourism Summit when Indian President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, paid tribute to the Dubai government…
Dubai won top laurels at the 5th Global Travel and Tourism Summit when Indian President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, paid tribute to the Dubai government for single mindedly pushing ahead with its tourism programme. In his address during the summit`s inauguration, Dr. Kalam hailed Dubai`s successful tourism efforts as a learning experience for India.
The summit, organized by the World Tourism & Travel Council (WTTC), was held in New Delhi from April 8-10, 2005. It brings business leaders and policy makers together on a common platform to collectively confront key issues facing the industry.
According to a report unveiled at the event, the global tourism industry is likely to generate US$ 6.2 trillion of revenue this year with a growth rate of 5.4 per cent.
Commenting on Dubai`s aggressive tourism agenda, Dr. Kalam said: Last year when I was in Dubai, I met the Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai. He said that Dubai is planning to increase the tourist arrivals by five times. Once the decision was taken, I found that the Civil Aviation Authority, was planning for a new airport and also new types of aircraft needed for attracting the tourists.
He added: The Dubai Municipality was planning a number of additional road lanes required in the highways. The government was planning for increase in the hotel accommodation for accommodating the tourists without disappointment. The Health Authority had a road map for waste management and a plan for providing additional clean water needed.
This was the type of integrated response that I found in the whole government to fulfill the national objective. We have to take the message coming out of this experience and plan for the multiple requirements simultaneously for promoting tourism in our country.
Dubai, which established itself firmly on the world tourism map through an aggressive promotional agenda, remains an attractive destination for business and leisure travellers from across the world. Called the sunshine destination, the emirate offers tourists a unique holiday adventure with five star leisure facilities, beautiful beaches, Arabian hospitality plus the modernity of a fast track, bustling metropolis.
The significant increase in visitor arrivals into Dubai is largely due to the expansion programme of Emirates; the Dubai-based international airline. With a humble start of 3 destinations in 1985, Emirates, the world`s fastest-growing intercontinental airline, has expanded rapidly to cover 78 cities in 55 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific.
Emirates strong sustained development is best characterized by the launch of a new route in almost every quarter. Since April 2003, the airline launched 11 new passenger routes to Moscow, Auckland, Brisbane, Lagos, Accra, Shanghai, Glasgow, Vienna, New York, Christchurch and Seychelles.
Representing the airline at the WTTC, Emirates Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide, Ghaith Al Ghaith said: The success of Dubai and Emirates is very closely linked. Over the years, Emirates has carried increasing number of passengers from various parts of the globe. Last year alone, the award winning airline carried 10.4 million passengers – almost two million more than the year before.
He added: With plans to more than double its size by 2012, the airline`s rapid and consistent growth will continue to fuel Dubai`s burgeoning tourism sector.
The airline`s expansion has also contributed to the growth of the Dubai International Airport. Billed as the world`s second most favourite international airport, the Dubai International Airport had over 21.7 million passengers pass through it in 2004, representing an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year.
Dubai posted the world`s highest growth of 31 per cent in international tourist arrivals in 2002 and occupied the top place on the list of `most frequently visited destinations.`
The emirate`s many futuristic, multi million dollar projects will further add to the city`s appeal. Prominent among these is `The World` – a group of 200 exclusive man-made islands clustered in the shape of the world map, soon to rise from the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
