Dubai hosts top Russian tour operator conference

This was announced at a Press conference held at Hotel Grand Habtoor today.

It was addressed by Mr. Khalid bin Nassar, DTCM Executive Overseas Promotions, Mr. George Moussa, Managing Director, Planet Travels & Tours, Ms. Inna Beltyukova, Director General, Capital Tours, Mr. Igor Beltyukov, President, Capital Tours and Mr. Valeriy Musaev of Trans Aero airlines.

Mr. Khalid bin Nassar, said, "This conference will enable the tour operators to send more visitors to the emirate. Dubai is a destination of choice for an increasing number of Russian and CIS visitors."

The department, which operates a representation office in Moscow for the Russian, CIS and Baltic regions, has been actively participating in different Russian tourism exhibitions, including the Leisure travel trade show for the past nine years. It also conducts regular sponsored familiarization trips for the Russian media representatives and tour operators.

He complimented both Planet Travel & Tours and Capital Tours for their hard work in bringing more Russian tourists to Dubai each passing year.

Mr. Khalid bin Nassar said over 422,000 Russians stayed with the Dubai hotel establishments in the year 2005. A 10 per cent increase was recorded in the number of Russians utilizing the Dubai International Airport. For the 2005/2006 season, as many as 830 tour operators are featuring Dubai in their packages, 38 per cent more than the previous period.

Mr. George Moussa, Managing Director, Planet Travel & Tours, said, "We have seen a big influx in the number of tourists coming here, especially Russians and hope the trend will continue. The infrastructure, holiday spots, best hotels, long, clean beaches, perfect weather, wide shopping options and attractive festivals - Dubai has got the best mix to attract one and all."

He said the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) business from Russia has been showing strong growth trends with corporate houses and international companies based in Russia choosing Dubai as their first option for their incentive and conferences meetings.

Planet Travel & Tours has been in the forefront in tapping the MICE business from Russia and we secured a big incentive group of 150 VIP Russian are coming by private jet to Dubai in December, contributing more than AED1million to the emirate's economy.

Mr. George thanked Capital Tours management for trusting his company over the years and for choosing his company to support them here in Dubai. He also thanked Trans Aero, the Russian airline which operates two flights a week to Russia from Dubai.

Trans Aero has been operating at Dubai International Airport Terminal 1 with the help of Planet Travel & Tours. The airliner has made over 100,000 flights to 145 destinations in 56 countries and has carried over 10 million passengers since its launch in November 1991. It is the only Russian operator of the biggest airplane in the world - Boeing 747. The airline will start utilizing the Boeing 747 for its twice-a-week Dubai service from November in addition to starting services to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Ms. Inna Beltyukova, Director General of Capital Tours, said, "Russians form a big number of the tourists coming to Dubai and we hope and expect the figure will increase in the months to come. We Russians love Dubai for its warm weather, great shopping avenues and the most luxurious hotels one can ask for. We particularly look forward to the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF-2007) which offers great deals, good bargains and unlimited fun. With the help and support of Planet Travel & Tours we can provide the best to our customers."

She said Russian travelers prefer the emirate's warm weather to the harsh winter months in their country. There was a huge interest in the conference by the travel industry and the media.

Delegates included representatives from the Russian Tourism ministry officials, owners and managing directors of established firms dealing in the tourism industry in the Russian Federation. A media delegation from Russia has been flown in for this special event.

During the conference, Mr. George Moussa launched a VIP Book, written in Russian, showcasing the city of Dubai and the various VIP services and facilities that the vibrant emirate has to offer.