Dynamic Dubai set to wow at World Travel Market

As World Travel Market 2008 fast approaches, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is planning for its biggest and best year yet.

Following an overwhelmingly successful year, Dubai is overcoming the current economic downturn by recording an 8.6 per cent increase in international visitors for the first half of 2008. And the UK and Ireland have been driving the growth in visitor figures with a 13.2 per cent increase in visitors during this period.

As ever, 2008 has been the backdrop for a host of ground-breaking and exciting new developments, with pioneering future projects unveiled, details of which will be showcased this year at World Travel Market.

A spectacular destination which rarely does things by halves, Dubai is a land of superlatives that is setting the pace of innovation with an extensive range of inspirational projects. The emirate’s pioneering and ambitious approach to development is reflected in the DTCM’s presence at this year’s WTM, with the largest stand ever at a huge 616.25 square metres. And, this year the DTCM will have over 90 co-participants featured on its stand including hoteliers - such as Atlantis The Palm and the recently opened Tamani Hotel Marina; ground handlers including Alpha Tours and Orient Tours; and other organisations such as Dubai Shopping Festival / Dubai Summer Surprises, Arabian Travel Market and Double Decker Bus Tours.

This year Dubai has further established itself as a premium family destination, having announced that it is aiming to become the world’s leading family destination for the UK and Irish markets by 2012. With new projects such as Dinosaur Restless Planet which opens at the end of this year in City of Arabia, and Dubai Sports City, the first stage of which is now complete, Dubai is well on its way to achieving this world-leading status.

Many other new attractions are also in the pipeline including Universal Studios, Marvel Dubailand, Legoland, a Nickelodeon theme park, Aquaventure at Atlantis The Palm and DreamWorks Animation. These contribute further to the impressive portfolio of family orientated projects such as Ronan Keating’s family favourite the Wild Wadi water park – praised by the singer, who takes his family to Dubai at least once a year, as “very safe and the hotel facilities are brilliant”.

This year has also seen Dubai continue to attract top brand names such as Nobu and Locatelli, who opened restaurants as part of Atlantis The Palm this September. And, The Ivy and Le Caprice are also set to make their international debuts in Dubai. These will add to the exciting plethora of gourmet dining destinations which include Gordon Ramsay’s Verre and Gary Rhodes’ Mezzanine. The emirate’s excellence in this industry is highlighted by Gordon Ramsay who describes Dubai as “fantastic” for food with a growing cuisine culture and “exceptional restaurants”.

Top names from the sporting world have also been attracted to Dubai - Ernie Els selected Dubai for his first course in the Middle East as part of ‘The Els Club’ global brand which opened at the beginning of this year at Dubai Sports City. At the Jumeirah Golf Estates top golfing names Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Pete Dye have designed four courses Earth, Fire, Water and Wind inspired by the natural elements which will open next year, and golfing legend Tiger Woods will open his first course, Al Ruwaya, in 2009 at Dubailand.

Autumn sees trailblazing initiatives open in Dubai which have gained worldwide interest, such as the eagerly anticipated Atlantis The Palm Acting as the initial focal point of The Palm Jumeirah. The resort offers a luxurious spa complementing Dubai’s diverse existing spa product. In addition the new resort offers a water park, white sands, boutiques and world class restaurants. The world-renowned QE2 cruise ship will dock after her final voyage in the emirate at The Palm Jumeirah in November where she will be transformed into a floating hotel, opening for business in 2009.

Enhancing Dubai’s status as one of the world’s leading shopping destinations and adding to the existing traditional gold and spice souks and the emirate’s 40 plus shopping malls, Dubai Mall opens this October and will be the largest shopping mall in the world, the size of 50 football pitches; it is expected to attract well over 30 million visitors in its first year alone. It will offer 1,200 stores and 120 food and beverage outlets, one of the world’s largest indoor aquariums, an Olympic-size ice rink, and the region’s first SEGA indoor theme park. And when it opens next year Burj Dubai will be the tallest tower in the world.

Continuing to work hard to support the travel industry, in 2008 the DTCM doubled the frequency of its Dubai Update newsletter to monthly; introduced an online version of the newsletter with supporting microsite offering lots of resources to the trade; and initiated bespoke bulletins for the travel trade, commerce and MICE sectors.

The Dubai Expert online training programme - now with 4,900 registered travel trade executives - has also had another hugely successful year proving a great help to tour operators and travel agents. It has received praise from the trade, Lisa Whitaker, Head of Call Center Sales at Virgin Holidays: “This comprehensive and user-friendly online training programme is invaluable. We include Dubai Expert as a mandatory part of all new starters’ initiation into the sales center. Since starting this we have noticed a significant increase in the confidence and capabilities of our sales agents. As a result we are confident that our sales agents have the best and most up to date knowledge about Dubai.”

Dubai continues to provide attractive incentives for agents and in 2008 DTCM teamed up with British Airways to offer agents the chance to win one of 100 places on a mega familiarisation trip to Dubai to further their product knowledge. This is in addition to regular dinners in partnership with key tour operators around the country to reward, inform and further motivate agents.

Ian Scott, director of the UK and Ireland representative office of Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing comments: “This year’s World Travel Market promises to be the best year yet for the DTCM, after a hugely successful 12 months. There is so much happening in the emirate, from much anticipated new hotels opening such as the Desert Palm and Atlantis, iconic additions like the QE2 and world firsts in the form of the world’s largest man made island The Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest shopping mall and the world’s tallest building which will open next year.

“At this year’s World Travel Market the DTCM will be showcasing our achievements so far as well as providing an insight into what to expect from the DTCM and Dubai for 2009 and beyond.”

For further information about World Travel Market and a full list of organisations exhibiting on the Dubai stand (ME2000), log on to Wtmlondon.com.