German delegation in Dubai to explore Arabian hospitality and unique developments

Their visit has been arranged by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) jointly with the Emirates Airlines, Jumeirah International (Mina A' Salam) and Travco.

The DTCM Manager Missions, Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, said: "Dubai has remained a sought-after holiday destination for Germans due to the availability of world-class hospitality services, in addition to year-round sunshine and high safety levels. The VIP delegation's visit reflects the unfaltering interest among the Germans about Dubai and is expected to convey a strong message about the ambitious developments underway to enhance visitors' experience."

He added: "The visit will help market Dubai as a unique and rapidly-expanding destination in a more effective and extensive manner in the German market."

Mara Kaselitz, Director DTCM-Germany, is accompanying the delegation which includes Mr. Fred H. Ladwig, Managing Director of Airtours, one of Germany's premium tour operators.

She said: "I am very proud that Mr. Ladwig is personally presenting Dubai to the German media. This personal attendance underlines the importance that Airtours accords to Dubai and its commitment towards us in the future as well. This visit will certainly help bring in more German visitors to Dubai through Airtours and the publicity following the tour. We have arranged the best itinerary for them to ensure that they get a comprehensive picture of Dubai. DTCM coordinated this trip with the support of Emirates Airlines which sponsored the tickets, while Mina A Salaam offered hospitality, and Travco Airtours provided the inbound handling."

Germany has been a major source market for the Dubai tourism industry. Over 156,000 Germans stayed in Dubai hotel establishments in 2003.

The department has released the German version of the 2004 edition of its flagship annual travel manual, Destination Dubai, during its participation in the world's top tourism fair, ITB-2004, in Berlin recently.

Mr. Ladwig said: "Dubai's quality strategy and the thorough orientation towards the premium level have made the destination and tour operator ideal, important and durable partners. Dubai and Airtours' success story is surely unique within the tourism industry. The Airtours' philosophy is perfectly in line with the quality strategy of Dubai."

He said Airtours included Dubai in its portfolio in 1984 and has since remained an undisputed leader of the German tour operators. Over the past 10 years, more than 70,000 Airtours' clients have visited Dubai.

The company's brochure, Distant Lands, features Dubai in its Summer 2004 edition and devoted over 30 pages, making the emirate one of the biggest highlights in the worldwide portfolio of the company. The company, with annual revenues of about 250 million euros and 190 employees on its rolls, is selling Dubai trips to more than 4,200 travel agencies in Germany and Austria.

Mr. Ladwig heads the company which is a full-fledged subsidiary of the world's leading travel company, TUI Group, since 1992.