GCC-wide DSF roadshows kickstart in Kuwait today

The four-day itinerary beginning with Kuwait includes Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and will move on to Saudi Arabia next week.

Beginning at 7pm the roadshows are being held at Movenpick Hotel Kuwait on November 19, the Ritz Carlton in Qatar on November 20 and Bahrain on November 21 and Sheraton Oman on November 22. Attending the roadshows are Major Omar Al Shamshi, Director of PR Department, Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), Khalid bin Nassar, Executive Marketing Officer, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), representatives of Emirates airlines in each GCC country and over 30 professionals from the travel and tour trade, airlines, hospitality and other fields who play key roles in promoting the event.

Roadshows are a significant vehicle to promote the DSF in the neighbouring GCC states which have a substantial turnout of visitors at the festival every year. Organised by the DSF Office, the Gulf-wide workshops will give an insight into the upcoming festival. Also accompanying the delegations are representatives of Dubai-based hotels, travel agents and rent-a-car companies who will unveil their offers tailor-made for various GCC states.

Said Saeed Al Nabouda, DSF CEO, "Like every year, this GCC tour is an essential part of our promotional campaign in the region. Besides opening the doors for the trade and tourism sectors, the roadshows attract a chunk of GCC visitors to the annual family extravaganza,".

"In 2005, we welcomed 3.3 million visitors, with a 60 per cent increase in the number of inbound GCC tourists, who comprised 22 per cent of the total number of visitors from abroad. The number of visitors from Arab countries increased by 81 per cent", he added.

The combined edition of DSF 2006-2007 will run from December 20, 2006 to February 2, 2007. The 45 days of family fun, entertainment and shopping frenzy will offer retrospective glimpses of the 10 previous editions combining the best of the best and promises to be even bigger and better.