Dubai Chamber hosts its tour agents group

The luncheon was organised on the sidelines of the 16th edition of the Arabian Travel Market which is attended by delegates from over 60 countries.

The networking event came within the strategic objectives of the Chamber which emphasizes on creating a favourable business environment and promoting Dubai as an international business hub.

HE Eng Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber, welcomed the gathering and highlighted the purpose of the meeting which he said was to establish an open communication channel between different business sectors in Dubai and to provide key players within the tourism sector an ideal platform to meet not only local companies but also an impressive contingency from the international travel sector.

Buamim said:

"Dubai enjoys a reputation as a safe and sunny tourist destination. The tourism sector plays a strategic role in the country's economic growth and our members from the Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group have directly contributed to the remarkable success of this sector."

Buamim pointed out that despite the fact that a major slowdown in demand is expected this year due to the global economic situation, growth of the Dubai tourism sector is still forecast to reach 4% in 2009.

While acknowledging that Dubai's economy had been affected by the global financial crisis, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has said that the tourism industry has remained healthy across the UAE. He stated that the country's tourism industry has already successfully survived the worst period and resiliently adapted itself during the most critical times.

The Director General of Dubai Chamber informed that with 9.5 million visitors passing through the halls of the Dubai International Airport in the first quarter of the year there is a 2% rise in passenger traffic. This makes it one of the world's top-10 airports to record an increase in both the first quarter of 2009 and the last quarter of the preceding year, when traffic rose by 7.1%.

Buamim pointed out that in the first quarter of 2008, Dubai's hotel establishments registered a growth of 7% in the number of tourists to 1.89 million as compared to 1.77 million in the corresponding quarter of 2007. The hospitality sector's revenue recorded a year-on-year growth rate of 22% to about Dhs4.3bn during the first quarter 2008, compared with Dhs3.5bn in the corresponding quarter in 2007.

Buamim stressed on the role of Dubai Chamber in serving its members in line with the best practices adopted by top chambers of the world by offering value-added services to all its stakeholders besides building strong alliances, facilitating networking with key regional and international trade partners and interaction of members with the global business community.