DTCM offers a taste of Ramadan to leading Travel Agents from UK

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in its efforts to dispel the doubts relating to travel during the month of Ramadan has organized a familiarization trip of four groups of leading travel agents from UK to the emirate between 18-25 November 2002. Each group, which comprises 12 travel agents, will witness activities in Dubai during the holy month of Ramadan.

DTCM Manager Missions, Hamad bin Mejren said that these familiarization trips will help convincing the travel agents and will dispel reservations about their visiting Dubai during Ramadan. "A similar efforts were made by the department during their participation in World Travel Market in London recently. There we distributed copies of a specially designed brochure titled 'A Taste of Ramadan' to the travel trade professional present in the exhibition. These familiarization trips will confirm our seriousness about promoting Dubai during the holy month of Ramadan", said Mr. bin Mejren.

Speaking about the growth in the numbers of visitors from UK to the emirate, Mr. bin Mejren remarked: "The second quarter of 2002 (Jan - June) recorded an increase of 21.30 per cent as we received 222,758 hotel establishment guests from UK compared to 183,647 in second quarter of 2001".

He said that department will entertain a total of 48 travel agents in the eight-day familiarization trip to Dubai. "These trips will educate the travel agents about how the emirate functions during the Ramadan and they would be in confident position to explain to the visitors about the do's and don'ts during Ramadan," said Mr. bin Mejren.

The visiting groups are being taken on a city tour, and are being familiarized with various details of Ramadan like Iftaar, Sahoor, etc. A tour of Jumeirah Mosque explaining its history is on the top of the agenda. "This will help the visitors to understand our culture and tradition and how the emirate has preserved it ancient past," said Mr. bin Mejren.

The familiarization trips are being organized in coordination with Emirates, Royal Mirage, Royal Meridian, Sheraton Jumeirah, Jebel Ali Hotel, Desert Adventures and Arabian Adventures.