Strongest-ever Dubai delegation for WTM-2005

The Dubai stand, measuring over 506 square metres at the four-day travel fair, will help attract and explore new business opportunities from the UK which, since 2002, has remained the largest source market for Dubai's booming tourism industry.

The DTCM has been participating in the WTM since the past 16 years and is focussing on further strengthening Dubai's leading position in this all-important European source market. Over the next four years, room capacity in Dubai's hotel and hotel apartments is expected to increase drastically with an additional 12,500 rooms providing greater choice of leisure and beach accommodation to the visitors.

Among the 46 representatives from the hospitality industry are well-reputed international as well as local groups like Habtoor Hospitality, Jebel Ali International Hotels, Jumeirah, the Ramee Group of Hotels and the Rotana Hotels.

With the demand for activity holidays and soft adventure on the rise, in- bound tour operators are also set to make their presence felt. The newly-opened mega shopping and entertainment centre, the Mall of the Emirates and the Ski Dubai is also poised for an impressive showing at the WTM -2005.

Visitors to the Dubai stand will also benefit from additional information about upcoming projects from companies like Nakheel and Emaar Leisure --developers of the grand-scale islands and waterfront properties --Dubai Marina and the world's largest tower Burj Dubai, respectively.

In 2004, Dubai witnessed the 16th consecutive annual rise in visitor statistics, demonstrating a 9 per cent growth. The total number of visitors to Dubai amounted to5.5 million in 2004 out of which 605,240 were from the UK while 15,529 were from Ireland.

Statistics from the first six months of 2005 (January-June) show that Dubai received 322,807 British and 8,985 Irish guests, an increase of 14.5 per cent and 29 per cent respectively from 2004.