Dubai expects 20% more tourists from India this year

To conduct 16-week 'Dubai Summer Surprise' from June 16

The Dubai tourism department is looking at a 20 per cent growth in inbound tourism traffic from India this year. Indian visitors comprised 6.5 per cent of the total inbound visitor traffic to Dubai last year.

Addressing a media conference, Saleh Al Geziry, executive (overseas promotions) of Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) who came here as part of Dubai's multi-city roadshows in India said that India has been one of the top five countries in terms of contribution to Dubai tourism and hotel industry.

About 3.25 lakh people from India visited Dubai in the last year. This number excludes those who had been to that country on employment and relations of those living in Dubai.

Giving details on the $5 billion 'Dubai Land', the latest tourism project under execution, among other tourism attractions, Saleh said that the project would have nine zones. According to him, the sports zone would have a golf course, a cricket stadium and even a snow skiing facility in the midst of the desert.

"Until now Indian tourists used to come for the Dubai shopping festival and city tourism. But our country has much more to offer," Saleh said, highlighting the 16-week long 'Dubai Summer Surprise' being conducted by the Dubai government from June16 to August 31, 2004.

Each week will be handled by a different government organisation, showcasing different tourist attractions and facilities available in the country. According to him, there were 341 Indian companies and 625 tourist operators in the Dubai free economic zone alone.

Hotels are an important part of Dubai's tourism and leisure industry and they together contribute 16 per cent to the country's GDP.

Dubai has 217 hotels, ranging from 7 star to 3 star status, and about 100 hotel apartments besides an under water hotel and several man-made islands. Carl Vaz, country manager of the Dubai tourism department in India said that Dubai was aiming to attract 15 million visitors who stay in Dubai hotels.