In an attempt to boost Indian arrivals to Dubai, The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organised a three-city roadshow in India – Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
In an exclusive interaction with Abdulla Yousuf, Acting Director, Proximity Market, International Operations, he shares that India is one of the leading source markets for Dubai and has witnessed 51 per cent increase in hotel guests from 2015-2018.
He further elaborates, “In an attempt to increase Indian tourist flow to Dubai, DTCM keeps upgrading continuously to provide relevant experiences for the discerning modern-day traveller. For the ease of travellers, Dubai Tourism has extended the free visa to Indian tourist below 18 years of age. This offer is set to be extended annually from 15th July to 15th September. Not just this, Dubai Duty-Free now accepts Indian currency; therefore, tourists need not undergo the hassle of money exchange.”
When it comes to events and activities, travellers have a plethora of options to choose from. Dubai Expo 2020 is one of the key events that is scheduled to take place from 20th October 2020 – 10th April 2021. This event happens once every five years and India will be an esteemed partner along with 192 other countries.
While Dubai Expo 2020 remains one of the key focus areas, Abdulla also talks about DTCM’s plans to dissipate the misconceptions that revolve around Ramadan in Dubai. Tourism in Dubai experiences a dip during this period as travellers are of the opinion that their experiences will be limited. On the contrary, it does not limit but gives a beautiful insight into the cultural aspect that Dubai has to offer. Malls and shopping centres remain open for extended hours and travellers get to savour delectable cuisine during this period.
With India topping the chart of the leading source market for Dubai, the Emirate is all set to launch new attractions, schemes, campaigns for travellers from India. School Break campaign, Monsoon campaign, Diwali campaign and Luxury adventure campaigns – are the prime campaigns that will focus on travel from India.
