GCC-EU trade accord will give Dubai tourism a boost

London: The expected free trade agreement (FTA) between the GCC countries and the European Union will boost tourism and trade between Dubai and Europe, according to Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

"When such agreement is reached it will render Dubai more attractive to the European business and tourism in general," said B'arbel Kirchner, Director of DTCM"s representative office in the UK and Ireland.

"Tourism from Europe still has very strong potential, and our 15 representative offices across the world act as a second embassy for Dubai aiming at enhancing its image, and promoting tourism, trade, and investment," said Mohammad Khamis Bin Hareb, director of operations and marketing at DTCM.

DTCM reported about 680,000 UK visitors to Dubai in 2005, a 13 per cent growth compared to the previous year. "This year we expect strong growth figures as well, and the number will exceed 700,000 visitors," Kirchner said, adding that "visitors from Ireland, a relatively new and small market, increased significantly by 45 per cent.

"With such pace of growth the hospitality developments taking place in Dubai seem quite sensible, as we sometimes face the problem of capacity during the peak season, where last year hotel occupancy rates were about 85 per cent," she added.