Japanese market express greater interest in Dubai

Khalid bin Nassar, Executive Overseas Promotions, represented the department at the show which has 16 co-participants at the Dubai stand put up by the DTCM.

The DTCM's participation at the exhibition for the 10th consecutive year is in line with the efforts to promote and market Dubai world wide as an ideal year-round business and leisure destination, especially in Japan.

There has been a growing interest in the Japanese market about Dubai as a tourism hub with a 29 per cent increase in the number of Japanese guests in Dubai hotels in 2005 compared with the previous year.

A 30 per cent increase was recorded in the number of Japanese nationals utilizing the Dubai International Airport for the same period.

The department also organised Dubai Road Show in three Japanese cities from September 25 to 27 with the aim to promote the emirate in Japan.

There were 18 co-participants for the road shows. The travel and tourism workshops highlighted Dubai and its world-class tourism facilities and quality services to the Japanese professionals in the cities of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

A large number of professionals from the Japanese travel and trade industry attended the workshop to learn more about Dubai as a favourite destination in the world and actively participated in the discussions.

The workshop also gave updates on the new projects in the emirate, which included Dubailand, Dubai Maritime City, Dubai World Central airport, Palm islands and The Word.

As many as 102 tourism companies in Japan are promoting Dubai in their tourist packages.