Record business to Dubai has been reported by the UK travel industry in the last 12 months with several tour operators experiencing doubled passenger numbers…
Record business to Dubai has been reported by the UK travel industry in the last 12 months with several tour operators experiencing doubled passenger numbers since World Travel Market 2004. Much of this growth has been made possible by increased flight access with 115 direct flights every week now available to Dubai.
Emirates expanded from four to five direct weekly flights from London Heathrow in August 2005. Further expansion plans include Virgin Atlantic’s first ever Middle Eastern route with four direct weekly flights between London Heathrow and Dubai from 27 March 2006 and daily flights from 1 June 2006.
“Dubai has experienced a very strong increase in visitor arrivals over the last ten years and many of the 190 UK and Irish tour operators featuring Dubai are experiencing a further rise in demand. With more than 322,000 British guests during the first six months of 2005 – over 14.5 per cent more than last year – the UK is the most important source of overseas visitors.” said Baerbel Kirchner, director of the UK and Ireland representative office of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
Dubai’s GDP increased by a staggering 263 per cent from US$7,896 million in 1990, to US$20,833 million in 2003. The diversification and growth of Dubai’s economy over this period has been reflected in the increased visitor figures for leisure, business or group travel, exhibitions or investment. With visitor figures predicted to increase from 5.4 million in 2004 to 15 million in 2010, this diversification is set to increase further. The emirate’s new developments will continue to attract visitors and therefore sustain demand for both the tourism and business sectors.
Sally Booth, head of products and marketing, for Seasons in Style stated: “Dubai has certainly taken off in the last year for us. It is becoming an ever expanding focus and in 2005 we have already seen a 35 per cent increase in bookings compared to the whole of last year.”
Similarly Abercrombie & Kent Travel is reporting growth: “Sales for Dubai so far this year are nearly as much as the whole of last year and clients are spending more money in Dubai – going for the same amount of time but booking higher categories of room at hotels,” said Janine Ostermeyer, planning manager for Dubai.
Meanwhile, Thomas Cook Signature has experienced year on year growth to Dubai and it fully expects this to continue in the foreseeable future. Also Elite Vacations doubled its sales in 2005 particularly noting a strong growth from the family market; while Tropical Locations has announced an increase in sales over 2004 in terms of arrivals.
Bringing the total of stand-alone Dubai brochures in the UK to seven, If Only… introduced its first ‘Experience Dubai’ programme earlier this year. “Since WTM 2004 our passenger numbers to Dubai have virtually doubled. Our new Dubai brochure should ensure that this continues. We have emphasised hotels specifically catering for families and those offering spa facilities and we are now actively encouraging the arranging of weddings in Dubai,” said managing director, Brendan Maguire.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
