The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organized a meeting with the key players of the emirate’s tourism industry to review the performance of Dubai’s tourism industry in 2011 and discuss the growth potential and market trends for the current year.
Chaired by the DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem and attended by the top management team members of the tourism regulatory body, the meeting was attended by members of the two consultative committees for hoteliers and tour operators.
At the outset, Mr. bin Sulayem thanked the tourism industry stakeholders for their cooperation with the DTCM and other government bodies in the efforts to promote and market Dubai in different parts of the world and for achieving good performance in the year 2011.
He briefed the participants, who included the top management of leading hotels and tourism companies, about the various initiatives that the DTCM launched last year and also the ones planned to boost hotel occupancies and number of tourists to the emirate in 2012.
Mr. bin Sulayem praised the inspiring cooperation between the government and private sectors in the tourism domain, which resulted in Dubai tourism industry posting stellar performances over the years, some of which were economically challenging.
He underscored the need for sustaining more high standards of quality and services to tourists in order to maintain the market-leading position enjoyed by Dubai as an all-appealing business and leisure destination in the global tourism market.
Participants spoke about the performance of their individual organizations and the market trends and developments during 2011 and listed out their projections and expectations for the current year.
The meeting also reviewed a report, prepared by the DTCM, about the global tourism and travel trends and their potential impact and benefits to the Dubai tourism industry in terms of hotel occupancies and tourist arrivals for the year 2012.
Mr. bin Sulayem presented certificates and mementos to members of the two groups in addition the DTCM staff members in recognition of their efforts in the development of tourism industry in the emirate.
The participants spoke highly of the DTCM’s role in the development of tourism industry in Dubai and its efforts to boost tourism business in the emirate.
Mr. Ghassan Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours, one of the UAE’s biggest tour operators, said that the year 2011 was one of the best years for the emirate’s tourism industry thanks to the concerted efforts of the DTCM in promoting and marketing Dubai in the world. Alpha Tours, he said, remained a strong supporter of DTCM’s initiatives locally and internationally and participated in various travel trade exhibitions and workshops with the DTCM. He said the meetings that DTCM holds with the industry players periodically have been of great help in overcoming the challenges and removing obstacles faced by the local tourism industry.
Mr. Peter Payet, Senior Vice President of Arabian Adventures and Congress Solutions International, said: “It has been a particularly good year for Dubai and Arabian Adventures in 2011 and the DTCM, under the leadership of Mr. Khalid bin Sulayem, has accomplished much in assisting us to secure more business and increase the number of visitors into the emirate. I would like to express our sincere gratitude the Team at DTCM for the valued support and look forward to a mutually successful 2012.”
Mr. David Thomson, Regional General Manager, Jebel Ali International Hotel, said: “Dubai’s incredible growth into a worldwide household name over the last 20 years and its ability to successfully weather the many global crises that have impacted the hospitality industry is largely due to the vision, support and hard work of the DTCM. They have championed the destination in every corner of the world and have allowed Dubai’s travel trade to achieve a far greater voice than many of the larger and more established tourist destinations.”
He added: “As a company Jebel Ali International Hotels and particularly our flagship property Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa has benefitted enormously from the support and guidance of the DTCM and they have made it possible for us to market ourselves in destinations that we could not possibly have considered had we had to operate alone. I am extremely grateful to His Excellency Khalid Bin Sulayem, and the Government of Dubai for this support which I have not seen matched by any other national tourism authority or government.”
Mr. Robert Konkler, Executive Director of Jumeirah Group, said the DTCM has been a key partner for us and always gave us unlimited support and we are dealing with the department on a daily basis and we rely on to bring journalists and media professionals from around the world and provide information on the tourism sector in the emirate and the representation of the emirate in overseas exhibitions and conferences.
