DSS boosts inbound air traffic

Dubai is increasingly being perceived as a hub for holiday makers. Even in summer the influx of inbound travelers into the emirate gives a fair idea of its popularity as a perfect leisure and recreational hub for families. Summertime is no longer an outbound season only in Dubai as the emirate witnesses a large number of visitors pouring in as the holiday season throbs with activity hosting events, shows and shopping bonanzas as part of the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS). Since its inception in the year 1998 the DSS has contributed immensely to boosting summer tourism in the UAE. Offering entertainment packed events and great shopping opportunities the DSS has grown to be one of the most popular summer events for people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities.

This time round celebrating its 10th anniversary the summer fiesta has lots in store for everyone as it's expected to surpass all previous records. With so much lined up for the upcoming holiday season airlines are upbeat about the business ahead. As has been the trend Dubai is bracing itself to welcome an influx of tourists from the neighbouring GCC as well as Europe and the Sub-continent to indulge in the summertime celebrations that will hit the city in a few days from now.

Says Senior Manager of UAE & Oman, Mr. Mohammad Khairalla, Kuwait Airways, "Summer spells boom time for inbound traffic coming from Kuwait. Every year we prepare ourselves for the DSS rush. Not just Kuwaitis but also expatriates based in the country make it a point to come to Dubai to spend some time here. There is a substantial increase in inbound traffic during this time of year as people love to spend their summer vacation in Dubai," he said adding, "In the holidays especially in July-August we expect the inbound traffic to go up by at least 10 per cent."

Emirates airline, which flies to 89 destinations in more than 59 countries, is promoting the DSS worldwide and is looking forward to a thriving summer season ahead. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates' Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide, says, "I cannot reveal the exact numbers, but sales have been increasing significantly every year during summer time, which is gratifying. The majority of our customers for DSS are from the Gulf and the Middle East region, but we are increasingly flying in many more people from the Sub-continent, Africa and Europe as well."

Encouraged by the interest generated in Dubai from newer markets Ghaith Al Ghaith adds, "Our DSS packages are an excellent means for people who have never seen Dubai before to come and enjoy the city and all it offers at extremely reasonable prices. This is the perfect time for families to take a vacation and revel in the festive atmosphere in Dubai, do some great shopping and possibly even win some of the fabulous prizes on offer during the period."

Paul Starrs - British Airways' Commercial Manager, Middle East says, "Passenger numbers are increasing year upon year, largely because of Dubai's burgeoning tourism reputation. All of our flights to the Middle East originate in the UK - as this is our hub and base of operations. Traffic between the UK and the UAE continues to grow. This is of course supplemented by the vast array of luxurious hotels and unique shopping experiences the city offers. Dubai is now an established year-round leisure destination."

He did not reveal the exact figures of inbound travelers but added, "British Airways' summer services - 21 weekly flights to the UAE, 14 to Dubai and a daily service to Abu Dhabi - demonstrate the importance of this market to us."

Mr Mansoubi Saeed, Tour Manager, Al Rais Travels sounds very upbeat about the trend this season. He says, "Last year we did very good business in summer and this year we already have a lot of inquiries from all over the world including countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya, Iran, Pakistan and India. We are expecting a large number of tourists from the UK this summer and most of the inbound flights coming into the country from various sectors are full.

Adds Mansoubi Saeed, "As for the GCC visitors we already have seen an increase of 10-15 per cent in reservations against last year which may go further up as the holiday season progresses. One area here is the transit passengers which is also a substantial number as travelers stop over in Dubai especially for shopping on their way to the Sub-Continent, Asia and other parts of the world."

Qatar Airways and Bahrain based Gulf Air also indicated that Dubai is an important market for them and like every year an increase in number of tourists coming into the emirate is expected during the summer season. People are attracted to the state-of-the-art tourist infrastructure of Dubai which is supplemented during this time of year by the DSS which offers an amazing shopping experience, unbelievable prizes, and great family entertainment.