DTCM TO CONTINUE TOURISM PROMOTIONS AS PLANNED PUBLIC & PRIVATE SECTOR TO FURTHER ENHANCE CO-OPERATION TO SUPPORT DUBAI'S TOURISM INDUSTRY

The Government of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) convened a high-level meeting on Monday (September 17th) with senior representatives from the local tourism industry.

The meeting that was chaired by DTCM Director General, Khalid A. bin Sulayem discussed the effects of the recent US events and their impact on global tourism business as well as on Dubai.

Participants at the meeting included senior DTCM officials, general managers of leading hotels, destination management companies, ground handlers and tour operators.

While fully acknowledging the worldwide effects of the events on global tourism, Mr. bin Sulayem expressed confidence that Dubai will endure the short-term effects because it is an established destination with strong contacts with the international tour operators, travel trade and the media.

"We are positive that once the negative media onslaught subsides the situation will improve because the international travel trade has full awareness of and confidence in Dubai as a destination and the local tourism industry is very strong," Mr. bin Sulayem said.

He noted that visitor arrivals from many of Dubai's major tourism origin markets including the AGCC and the region were largely unaffected. "We are optimistic that Dubai's position on the world tourism map will remain intact," he said.

"We have in the past managed to overcome many hurdles and established Dubai as a top class destination and the DTCM would persist with promoting the emirate aggressively around the world through participation at major international travel fairs with special emphasis on the important markets," Mr. bin Sulayem added.

Mr. bin Sulayem noted that a directive has already been issued to the DTCM's network of 14 overseas offices located in the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, East Africa, South Africa, India, Japan, the Far East, Australia and Sweden on how to deal with the situation and handle inquiries from the travel trade and media conveying to the world the truth about Dubai as a safe and calm destination and correcting misconceptions created by the media.

A similar statement was also issued to the local travel trade who were highly appreciative of it and remarked that the statement was well received.

The DTCM network of offices will step up co-operation with the tour operators in their respective markets along with adequate feedback and support from the Head Office in Dubai. Co-operation will also be enhanced with overseas representatives of local travel trade and hotel establishments.

"We will take all adequate measures that are crucial to sustain Dubai's tourism industry and the public and private sector will work together as a cohesive unit," Mr. bin Sulayem stressed.

The meeting ended on the note that the DTCM Head Office and overseas offices will continuously monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on the standby to respond to the needs of the local tourism industry accordingly and make all out efforts to ensure that the media projects the correct image of the UAE and Dubai as a top class tourism destination.