Dubai tourism looks set to boom amid plans to attract 40 million new hotel guests by as early as 2031.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the new national strategy.
He said: “We are among the top 10 tourist destinations in the world and our goal is to accelerate our competitiveness by attracting Dhs100billion in additional tourism investments to this vital sector and receiving 40 million hotel guests in 2031.”
HH Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of tourism to the UAE economy – and hopes the new plan will see the sector’s contribution to GDP rise to Dhs450billion overall.
If that is to be achieved, tourism’s contribution must increase by Dhs27billion annually.
According to the plan, 25 initiatives and policies will be introduced to support tourism.
Investment will also be encouraged in the travel, aviation and hospitality sectors with the hope of attracting international companies.
HH Sheikh Mohammed continued: “Tourism is an important part of diversifying our national economy and an important tributary to consolidating our global competitiveness.
“Our airports received 22 million passengers in the first quarter of this year alone.
“Our goal is that the tourism sector’s contribution will be Dh450bn of our GDP in 2031.”
The UAE has enjoyed a surge in tourism numbers this year, with revenue exceeding Dhs19billion during the first half of 2022.
The total number of hotel guest numbers reached 12 million – a 42 percent increase.
In a Cabinet meeting last week, HH Sheikh Mohammed said: “Our indicators today are stronger than our indicators before the pandemic, and our economic growth is faster than before the pandemic, and our tourism, commercial and development sectors are larger than before the pandemic.”
This was particularly clear in Dubai, where a 182 percent year-on-year increase in international visitors was reported.
And this looks likely to increase dramatically over the coming weeks, too.
Hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi expect occupancy levels to rise by 80 to 100 percent, with demand surging due to the proximity to tournament hosts Qatar.
Source: Time Out Dubai
