ATM mirrors progress - Mohammed

The Dubai Government has a tourism cooperation and development plan for Fujairah that will be discussed with His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah.

This was said yesterday by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, to Sheikh Saeed bin Saeed Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Fujairah Tourism Bureau, while opening the 9th Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Information, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation president and Emirates Group chairman, Sheikh Hasher Maktoum, Dubai Director of Information, Sheikh Sultan bin Jassem Al Thani, Qatar General Tourism Authority chairman, Monther Znaidi, Minister of Tourism, Leisure and Handicrafts of Tunisia.

Other visiting tourism ministers include Rhissa Agboula, Niger Minister of Tourism; Jagmohan, Indian Minister of Tourism and Culture; Philip Rodrigues, Goa State Minister of Tourism.

Sheikh Mohammed praised the ATM as an international event being held on Arab land and said that he was proud of the high capabilities and skills of national organisers who had been shouldering greater responsibilities in holding exhibitions over the past two decades.

"These events mirror the intellectual, cultural and humanitarian progress made by UAE men and women at all levels," he added.

Sheikh Mohammed underlined the importance of tourism in deepening understanding and contacts between human civilisations in away that helps people to be in touch with each others' culture, heritage and history.

"This will make distances between nations shorter and bring a new world in which justice, peace and equality can prevail," he said.

He said the UAE possesses the main factors for a viable tourism industry, citing the numerous ongoing tourist and entertainment projects in Dubai.

Touring the Fujairah pavilion, Sheikh Mohammed told Sheikh Saeed that cooperation in tourism between Dubai and Fujairah should be established and that Dubai fully supports it.

"Sheikh Mohammed said he has a plan to push Fujairah's tourism forward. Cooperation, for example, can enable visitors to spend a few days in Fujairah after Dubai," said Sheikh Saeed.

Sheikh Saeed also stressed that Fujairah hotels will 'integrate' with Dubai's and the entry of Le Meridien to Fujairah will attract other companies to it.

Sheikh Mohammed also toured the Sharjah stand where he was received by Sheikh Tariq Al Faisal Al Qassimi, Sharjah Tourism Authority Chairman, and saw the models of the Madinat Jumeirah resort, The Palm and Dubai International Airport expansion plans.

He also stopped at numerous stands including Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Boeing and Spain.

Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corp. and chairman of Dubai Palm Developers, said buyers of property - both companies and individuals - in Dubai's ambitious The Palm project are being offered full ownership.

"The Palm island is offering 100 per cent free-hold ownership of properties to people from the region including expatriates. The buyer of the property will have the title deed in his name," he said.