By Lisa James
08/11/2024
Home » Dubai ‘now year-round destination’
Dubai has now firmly established itself as a year-round destination, with demand for the summer months increasing over the past two years, according to the destination’s tourism department.
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism Senior Vice-President of International Operations Hoor Al Khaja said the UK is the largest source market for Dubai within western Europe. Between January and September this year, 922,000 Brits visited Dubai, an increase of 12% year-on-year.
Speaking at World Travel Market in London, Hoor said: “We’re seeing very healthy demand for Dubai, in growing numbers and we’re increasingly seeing that it’s becoming a year-round destination.”
She said demand for the summer months has increased since COVID – and particularly since around 2022.
“There is a lot more awareness about what there is to do in the summer. It’s very family friendly, very safe with air-conditioned spaces. It is an interesting mix of people coming in for the summer. Historically we were targeting our messaging towards families, but it is a very popular summer destination for couples as well,” she said.
“Demand is increasing, but unlike mature tourism cities, our supply keeps increasing too.”
New developments include the Real Madrid World theme park, which opened in April, while the new Jumeirah property, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, is due to open by February 2025.
Hoor said 25% of visitors to Dubai are repeat visitors to Dubai, and the Department is running a stopover campaign in the second quarter of 2025, in collaboration with Emirates. The campaign will feature a ‘global celebrity who resonates in the UK’, she added.
Recent figures from flight data analysts Cirium showed a record number of seats on flights departing the UK in the third quarter of this year, with Dubai the most popular destination.
Source: Travel Gossip
