Dubai: International Tourism Bourse (ITB), the world's biggest travel and tourism exhibition and conference, kicked off yesterday in Berlin with UAE's travel and tourism entities making their presence felt in a big way. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing is participating at the ITB, with 87 co-participants in a double-decker stand spanning 528 square metres.
A strong DTCM delegation will include senior government officials representing various government departments.
This is Dubai's 22nd consecutive participation at the global event that attracts more than 180,000 visitors, among these 108,000 trade visitors, and over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries.
Market
Germany is a very important tourism source market for Dubai. As many as 281,483 German tourists stayed in Dubai's hotel facilities, including 247,562 in luxury hotels and 33,921 in hotel apartments.
Khalid A. Bin Sulayem, Director-General of the DTCM, said, "Germany is a very important tourism market for us. Our 22nd consecutive participation at the ITB 2011 comes as the tourism sector in Dubai rebounds with increased hotel guests and occupancy. Dubai's hotel establishments have achieved a solid growth last year maintaining the same occupancy levels as the previous years amid capacity expansion, reflecting a strong comeback."
The number of German travellers passing through Dubai International Airport increased 17 per cent to 1,857,713 in 2010, up from 1,594,597 in 2009. Of this, 934,747 passengers departed from Dubai International Airport, while 922,513 number of passengers arrived from Germany in 2010. The rest, 453 were transit passengers — reflecting the fact that Dubai has remained a destination for German travellers, rather than a mere transit point. This proves that the emirate attracts genuine German tourists.
Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of Berlin, said, "This event enables direct contact to be made with customers and partners alike and it facilitates the establishment of new contacts with the potential for creating new and productive business relationships."
Trade between Dubai and Germany reached Dh14,44 billion last year.
Klaus Laepple, Chairman of ITB's supervisory board, said, "The business travel market has shown very encouraging improvements over the past months with airports and airlines reporting an upsurge in passenger numbers, in some cases to unprecedented levels. The number of overnightsby foreign visitors and in Germany's major cities, are steadily rising.
"At the same time, Germans are again travelling abroad in greater numbers. Prospects for the current year are positive, too."
Participation
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Sharjah Commerce Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is also participating at the event with a large number of travel and tour operators.
German speaking markets are turning the corner in interest in Abu Dhabi's tourism product with the destination's pavilion at ITB receiving a steady stream of trade enquiries.
The pavilion, organised by ADTA with over 20 sharing partners, is showcasing a destination with a product range which has expanded exponentially in the last 12 months with more additions in the pipeline.
"I have received two enquiries from major German corporates who are looking to stage incentive tournaments at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club staying at the new Westin next year," said Klaus Niefer, General Manager, The Westin Hotel & Spa, Abu Dhabi.
