Dubai under spotlight at the World Travel Market (WTM-2003)

The 24th edition of the World Travel Market (WTM) is witnessing the biggest-ever presence of Dubai with 90 public and private sector organizations sharing its biggest-ever stand at this exhibition.

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is showcasing the emirate's tourism attractions and ambitious investment and development projects to the travel trade professionals and visitors from across the five continents at the fair which runs until November 13.

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

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

An estimated 45,000 visitors worldwide will pass through the doors to check out the diverse range of exhibitors on show over the four days.

The global event for the travel industry is being attended by over 5,000 public and private sector organizations from across the world.

In 2002, the WTM recorded an attendance of 23,097 trade visitors (55 per cent from the UK and 45 per cent from overseas), of which 12,929 buyers were from the Meridian Club, a premium membership nominated by exhibitors and invited by the organizer.

The WTM has grown by five per cent in terms of size this year. The global event has a record 189 exhibiting countries, an increase of five more countries compared to last year.

There are also more than one hundred new exhibiting companies and organizations across the world participating at this year's WTM.

Dubai has been enjoying great interest among the visitors at this exhibition right from the very first year of its participation, but the WTM-2003 will be utilized to raise the level of awareness about Dubai and express to the world its strong commitment to tourism industry.

The stand will offer visitors the chance to explore the features that enabled 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.

Dubai's development projects from a broad spectrum of the economy will be showcased 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 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 197,481 guests in 1998. More than 110 tour operators in the UK are promoting Dubai - almost 21 per cent more compared with the previous year.

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.