Dubai to have biggest-ever presence at WTM-2003

The participation for the 14th consecutive year and the year-on-year growth in the number of co-participants and the size of the stand reflects the importance that DTCM and its partners-in-success accords to WTM in line with its vision to attract tourists from every corner of the world, especially Europe and the UK.

Dubai will be the centre of attraction at the global gathering of travel trade decision-makers as it occupies the biggest-ever stand space it has taken at the WTM to highlight the ambitious development projects currently underway or planned in Dubai.

Dubai's 425 square meters stand will have 54 booths and will reflect the best of facilities and attractions that has been bringing global acclaim to Dubai. The number of co-participants has gone up by 10 compared with the previous year, while the stand size grew by 101 square meters.

The global event for the travel industry attracted a total of 43,656 visitors, including 23,097 trade professionals and 2,547 media representatives, and 5,190 companies from 184 countries.

Addressing a Press conference at the Taj Palace Dubai hotel, the DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A. bin Sulayem, said: "Dubai enjoys great interest among the visitors at this exhibition, but we want to raise the level of awareness and visibility for Dubai at the show. WTM-2003 will be utilized to showcase the best of Dubai to the travel and tourism industry decision-makers and visitors."

Mr. bin Sulayem added: "Our strongest representation and energetic public-private sector partnership showing at the WTM-2003 will surely woo more visitors to come to Dubai. Our hard work and inherent urge to grow and outshine others will enhance our international reputation and standing. We are looking forward to and working towards a wonderful period of growth."

He said, the exhibition offers the opportunity to express Dubai's keenness in promoting the destination globally and networking with the travel and tourism industry. It also gives us the chance to further strengthen the strong public relations and two-way trade between the Dubai and Europe in General and the UK in particular, added Mr. bin Sulayem.

He said Dubai stand at WTM-2003 will reflect the enterprising spirit of the emirate, its ambitious development programme. It will offer representative insights into the state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure available or being developed in Dubai.

The stand will offer visitors the chance to explore for themselves the fast emergence of Dubai as a perfect and safest round-the-year destination of business and leisure. Dubai's MICE facilities will also remain in the spotlight.

Mr. bin Sulayem said Dubai's development projects from a broad spectrum of the economy will be highlighted as these have already generated enormous international interest. The hosting of Dubai World Cup and the 2004 editions of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) will also be highlighted.

The WTM, he said, has been a gateway to reach out to the UK and other European markets which plays a crucial role in Dubai's tourism growth.

The number of UK guests hosted by Dubai hotel establishments in 2002 recorded a 28.27 per cent increase over the previous year. Dubai hotel establishments received to a total of 447, 006 UK guests in 2002 as against 348,477 guests in 2001. More than 110 tour operators in the UK are promoting Dubai through their holiday packages - almost 21 per cent more compared with the previous year.

The department had organized, for the third year, a series of Dubai Road Shows in London, Dublin, and Manchester from October 2 to 7, 2003. Each of these meetings was attended by more than 200 travel agents, tour operators, and conference and incentive markers. The road shows and seminars forms a crucial part of the DTCM's marketing and promotional agenda.

Mr. bin Sulayem announced the launch of an online registration facility for the participation in the overseas exhibitions and road shows under the DTCM umbrella. This innovative facility allows hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, and other organizations to conduct online registration in without any hassles.

He also disclosed that the department would be participating for the first time in four news exhibitions in 2004. The exhibitions are WTI (Mumbai), EMITT (Istanbul), EMIF (Brussels) and ILTF (Cannes).

DTCM Director Operations and Marketing, Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, said: "The large participation of public and private sectors in exhibitions and road shows under the DTCM umbrella strongly reflects the teamwork that goes behind promoting Dubai in overseas markets."

"Our huge participation clearly reflects the significance we attach to the WTM. The popularity of WTM and the importance it commands generated

tremendous response for participation by Dubai organizations under the DTCM umbrella. We have been increasing the size of the stand every year and have to struggle to accommodate the co-participants at the stand," he said.

Mr. bin Hareb said the DTCM representative office in London has been working hard to build further interest in Dubai among travel agents and consumers and keeping up the momentum through a variety of initiatives.

He said the department participated in 29 exhibitions in 2003 and has decided to introduce four new exhibitions in India, Turkey, Belgium, and France to its agenda to enlarge the scope of overseas promotions.

These are in addition to nine road shows and workshops, of which five new ones will cover New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria, Far East, India, and Eastern Europe. The department has also upgraded its participation to 'A' level at the IMEX 2004 in Frankfurt.

DTCM Manager Overseas Promotions, Mr. Khalifa Ali Buamaim, said Dubai stand will be showcasing the emirate's rich cultural heritage as well as the impressive modernity in order to offer the visitors insights into the making of the destination. The stand will incorporate traditional design concepts."

He said this year's Dubai stand will see the participation of the Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) for the first time. The DNRD will be highlighting the e-gate, an innovative hi-tech immigration clearance facility in place for frequent travelers using the Dubai International Airport.

He said a variety of international events have created extensive awareness about Dubai in different parts of the world.

"The size of Dubai stand in almost every exhibition is being increased almost every year to accommodate more co-participants. We will keep up the momentum of our exemplary public-private partnership towards promoting Dubai to achieve the desired goals," he added.