Senior tourism industry officials confirm positive impact of DSS on regional tourism

They noted that the big summer bonanza is drawing in more visitors to the tourist magnet of the Gulf during the summer months, thus helping travel agencies best market Dubai abroad, specially in GCC markets, all year round.

According to sources, DSS is a prime factor behind this surge in tourist arrivals and has heightened competition among tourist agencies which are now vying for offering the best possible itineraries for tourists coming in from Asian and European countries whose numbers this year far exceed those of last year.

A minimum of 30 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in August is expected, according to confirmed tourist reservations.

'Dubai has survived the lean summer season of the past and its hotels are now achieving high occupancy rates due to the considerable tourist inflows from different world countries,' said Ghassan Al Aridi, CEO of Alfa Tours.

He noted that the high tourist growth rates notched by Dubai and the diversity of services and products offered here make it easier for tourist agents to best sell the Emirate abroad.

'Tourist companies are offering several options for tourists, especially those coming from Europe who can't get enough hotel rooms during the overcrowded winter season and thus decide to visit the Emirate during the summer out of a genuine desire to visit the country at any time of the year, specially during the summer season where prices are 40 per cent less over other periods of the year. Also, during the summer months they get better shopping prices and many other incentives.'

He added that the Dubai summer is witnessing a steady increase in tourist arrivals, now put at 13 per cent over the same period last year.

'Despite the remarkable increase in the number of tourists arriving from different parts of the world, the GCC market still comes on top of the list of world regions sending tourists to Dubai. While planning for vacationing abroad, Gulf families take Dubai either as a take-off point or an end-destination for their trips in Asia or Europe.'

Usama Bushra, Travco Director General, expected at least a 30 per cent increase in the number of tourists arriving in Dubai during August over the same period last year.

'The nearer we are to the end of the vacation season, the more reservations we get, especially from Gulf families coming from abroad that want to spend the longest possible period of time inside Dubai before they return home', he added.

The large discounts and promotions in shopping centres that are organized by the DSS in cooperation with the private sector and different government departments in Dubai have added to the colossal efforts of the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing to promote the Emirate in different world markets, he added.

He also underscored the vital role played by festivals, being a mainstay of the tourism industry, in reviving the retail trade and tourist sectors in Dubai which altogether account for more than 20 per cent of the Emirate's GDP.