Dubai: Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be targeting visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries ahead of Eid Al Adha celebrations next week.
In an emailed statement to Gulf News, Ahmad Belhoul, chief executive of Strategy Tourism Sector Development at Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), stated that there were high expectations for the number of visitors entering Dubai during next week’s holiday period.
“If we look at figures from Eid Al Fitr earlier this year, hotels and deluxe hotel apartments in the emirate welcomed a total of 76,692 guests over the three-day holiday, recording a combined average occupancy level of 86 per cent, so we are hopeful that we can continue this with equally strong visitor numbers for Eid Al Adha this month,” he stated.
Saudi Arabia clearly remains the UAE’s largest source market for regional tourists. Over a million Saudis visited the UAE last year during the Eid Al Adha break besides tens of thousand of other GCC citizens.
Dubai has witnessed an increase in visitors from its non-regional source markets in 2013 including from China, India, Australia, and many European countries.
However, Belhoul expects that the bulk of visitors for next week’s holiday will be from neighbouring countries.
“The GCC states contributed 42,000 travellers towards the total number of visitors over the Eid Al Fitr period,” he stated, adding that there were more family-focused events for families visiting Dubai during Eid Al Adha.
Sultan Al Muhairi, Eidfest project manager at Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), meanwhile, said visitors to Abu Dhabi would be treated to a range of performances by international artists including renowned Saudi Arabian singer Mohammad Abdu.
“We’re encouraging everyone to spend their Eid in Abu Dhabi where there is so much more to do and see,” Al Muhairi said.
Despite the major draw card of theme parks on Yas Island in the nation’s capital, Al Muhairi encouraged tourists to spend time across the emirate.
“Visitors should also head to Al Ain, or for those looking for adventure should explore the resorts, deserts, and islands in Al Gharbia (Western Region),” he said.
Emiratis, Saudi Arabians, and visitors from other GCC countries are expected to make up the bulk of tourists travelling to Abu Dhabi over Eid Al Adha. However, Al Muhairi said the broad range of activities on offer would cater to all visitors in the emirate.
Ahead of the holiday period, TCA Abu Dhabi will launch a domestic and regional media campaign encouraging people to spend their holiday in Abu Dhabi. Last year, when Eid Al Adha also occurred in October, arrivals in Abu Dhabi hotels and apartments climbed by 22 per cent for the month when compared to the same period in the previous year. In 2011, the Eid Al Adha holiday took place in November.
