WTM participants in Dubai expect tourism boom

Dubai: Participants in the Dubai Pavilion at World Travel Market (WTM) are expecting a momentous jump in tourists’ numbers to the emirate this tourist season and in the future.

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai (DTCM), on Thursday, concluded its 23rd consecutive participation at the 33rd edition of WTM 2012.

Ghassan Al Aridi, CEO – Alpha Tours, said the DTCM Pavilion at WTM this year has been a big success. “Alpha Tours has obtained the best travel company award worldwide in dealing with Virgin Holidays, the top travel company attracting tourists from the UK to Dubai.”

Beating up international companies from North, Central and South America, and Australia, Alpha Tours has been offering distinguished and diverse services for seven years now.

Other than the international companies we are already cooperating with, particularly from Germany and Russia, Alpha Tours held over 25 work sessions with new companies to enter Dubai Market for the first time. “We have sealed 10 new contracts to attract more tourists to Dubai as of January 2013.”

Expecting more tourists to flock to Dubai soon, Mohammad Al Rais, Vice-Chairman, Al Rais Travel Company, said they have appointed three rep offices in Germany – to cover Austria and Switzerland, Netherland – to cover Luxemburg and Scandinavian countries and Spain.

“We have also concluded an agreement with a big US company to undertake all the reservations and services of the tourists flying to the US through us.”

Freddy Farid, Chairman, Gloria Hotels Dubai, said the Group is now running two hotels on Sheikh Zayed Road; the first, comprising 1,000 rooms, was opened in 2010 while Yassat Gloria Hotel Apartments, the second, is to be officially inaugurated on December 12, offering 1,019 rooms.

“Despite the large number of rooms available in the two hotels, the occupancy rate exceeds 90 per cent ,” he said, noting that the hotels are close to a metro station each with a bridge linking them.

“Public buses are also accessible to transport guests to Jumeirah Beach and Mall of the Emirates, and both hotels are equipped with a comprehensive centre for child care, and ballrooms that can accommodate up to 1,000 people.”

“Though some 15 per cent of its guests are British, Gloria Hotels Dubai is targeting 40 per cent. Most of our guests, however, are from the GCC, Russia, Germany and Iran,” he added.

Mohammad Awadallah, Regional Manager, Time Hotels Management Group, said they have inked some agreements with British travel companies to reserve a big number of rooms at the Time Grand Plaza Hotel this season.