Growth similarities between Dubai and Hong Kong highlighted

The meeting, also attended by Mr. Awadh Al Seghayer, Director of Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB), and Mr. Jeff Ambjorn, Director Middle East at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, threw light on the rapid developments underway in both the destinations and their similarities. The meeting also discussed about promotional festivals in general and the role they played in promoting the destination.

According to Mr. bin Sulayem, "Hong Kong is a very important market for us and we also have an office there. This is evident from the number of Hong Kong visitors to Dubai hotel establishments which increased by 31.3 per cent in 2003 over the previous year."

Mrs. Chow, visiting Dubai for the first time, was very impressed with the emirate and the developments underway. She said: "There are a lot of similarities between both the countries. Hong Kong is growing in a big way with 90 hotels coming up by the year 2008. Dubai too is growing phenomenally which is evident from the number of hotels and tourism related projects coming up."

They also discussed issues of bi-lateral interests and ways to strengthen relations between Hong Kong and the UAE in general and Dubai in particular. They also discussed about cooperation between Dubai and Hong Kong and the possibility of bringing more tourists to Dubai from Hong Kong and vice versa.

The Director General also briefed the visiting delegation on the new and ongoing developments in Dubai.