Emirates Holidays declares robust financial results

Around 100,000 tourists travelled with Emirates Holidays during the past 12 months, with the top ten destinations proving to be Dubai, Thailand, Malaysia, UK, Egypt, Mauritius, Singapore, France, the Maldives and Turkey.

Destinations growing in popularity were Seychelles, Austria, Greece, China including Hong Kong, Kenya and the Philippines.

Double-digit growth was achieved in all Emirates Holidays' source market regions - Asia, Africa & Indian Ocean, Europe including Russia, UAE and the Middle East - the most outstanding was Asia as a result of strategic efforts to grow the region's diverse tourism opportunities.

During the year, Emirates Holidays also developed an enhanced version of its innovative TradeNet all-in-one online quotation and booking engine system, which is now used by more 4,000 agents in over 35 countries throughout the Gulf, Middle East and Asia, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Hong Kong. Saudi Arabia was the first GCC country to receive the enhanced TradeNet 2.0, which is now being rolled out to the remaining GCC countries.

Hans Haensel, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Destination & Leisure Management, said:

"These results demonstrate yet another successful year for Emirates Holidays. The consistent and dynamic growth of Emirates Holidays is the result of the rapidly-expanding Emirates Airline network, coupled with the continuing support of its travel partners around the world."

He added: "Flexibility, quality and affordability are the hallmarks of Emirates Holidays and have continued to prove popular with our customers. This year we are introducing more destinations, special theme holidays and an increased variety of hand-picked hotels, resorts, apartments and lodges."

The financial results were announced at a press conference which also marked the launch of Emirates Holidays' "A World of Choice" 2006-7 brochures at the three-day Emirates Holidays World exhibition for travel trade and consumers, at the Grand Hyatt Conference Centre in Dubai.

Offering the best of the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean, Asia and Australasia, Europe and North America, the brochures feature more than 100 destinations in 36 countries and represent the most comprehensive product offerings of Emirates Holidays to date.

More than 500,000 brochures will be distributed through travel agents in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia, to thousands of potential travellers.

Emirates Holidays World, an annual eagerly-awaited event, enables thousands of consumers and travel trade representatives to interact with experts from National Tourist Offices, and Emirates Holidays destination partners from around the world.