The UAE’s that is also known as the tourism and infrastructure hub, is witnessing a huge juggernaut as its tourism as well as hospitality arena is signifying a robust progression pathway.
The numerous experts recently stated within the Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2021) exhibition that the forthcoming gala event Dubai Expo 2020 will be intensifying the recovery mode for UAE’s travel, tourism, hospitality arena from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Numerous experts voiced and pointed out while speaking out with Khaleej Times at the event, that 2021 will to prove to be a lot challenging year for countless UAE’s core sectors, however, the recovery is definitely on the horizon and that the mega event would be the icing on the cake with it proving out a core factor for aiding this recovery.
It also added out that UAE’s tourism as well as hospitality arena is on the marching pathway depicting out a robust progression trajectory, aided out by striving economic diversification guidelines charted out by governments like the UAE’s Vision 2021 which will fortify the UAE as a global tourism hub and rank it as the number one tourism terminus globally.
Rotana president and CEO, Guy Hutchinson, stated out that, “Close-up demand would translate into remarkable numbers closer to the event. Rotana already has a significant presence in Dubai, and strengthening our portfolio with additional properties will allow us to further contribute to and capitalize on the UAE’s ever-expanding tourism and hospitality sector. Our upcoming properties will go a long way towards meeting the pent-up demand anticipated during and beyond Expo 2020 this year, and will help ramp up overall room capacity which is crucial in achieving the city’s ambitious tourism vision.”
Hilton’s VP as well as commercial director for Middle East, Africa and Turkey territory, Stijn Bastiaens, stated out that; “there was already a robust demand for travel and hospitality being detected for the second half of this year, which will match with the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai in October. There is an enormous amount of pent-up demand because a lot of people are itching to travel,” he said. “What gives me optimism is the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai event, which comes exactly at the right time for the travel and tourism industry. We see that international markets are slowly recovering and getting there when it comes to reopening especially the UK, Turkey, and KSA; and more will come over the next few weeks and as we get closer to the event.”
Emaar Hospitality Group’s Head of Hospitality, Mark Kirby, announced that; “UAE’s hospitality brands will have a significant role to play once the UAE commences to welcoming visitors for the event. We are very excited about Expo 2020 Dubai because we are the official hospitality partner for the event, as well as the only authorised ticket resellers,” he said. “We have been working very carefully and diligently with the Expo team over the past few years. The event is going to give us extra support and drive numbers into Dubai. We are also the only hospitality partner that has a hotel within the Expo site, which is the Rove Expo 2020. This will bring us solid revenues and opportunities for the Rove brand. With visitor numbers coming into Dubai for the event, I think that we are going to have ourselves a very good last quarter.”
Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM’s) Director General, Helal Saeed Al Marri, stated further, “Since the beginning, Dubai has shown remarkable resilience in dealing with the pandemic. Taking decisive action at the right time, using all the data available to us as a smart city to make decisions, and opening the economy sector by sector, with the right precautions being taken at each stage, has enabled the gradual recovery of the travel and tourism industry and allowed the city to open its borders to both domestic and international travel. With the number of Covid-19 cases stabilising, due to high vaccination rates and some of the highest testing rates in the world, we can expect to see further easing of restrictions in Dubai in the near future.”
With less than five months to go until Expo 2020 unfastens its doors, security has been the topmost priority for Expo’s native team and global partners. Thermal cameras and sanitization bases, as well as obligatory face-mask wearing, stringent social distancing guidelines, and free vaccinations are some of the foremost safety proposals being executed. The procedures also include virtual inspections of workforce accommodation and the offer of the Covid-19 vaccine to all employees and their households.
In April, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, had declared that Expo’s vaccination programme would be prolonged to all official governments of the nation’s taking part in Expo 2020.
Expo 2020 Dubai officials at ATM also revealed out countless updates regarding the event. They declared that Expo 2020 has gathered the number of Authorised Ticket Resellers (ATRs) for Expo 2020 Dubai, with in excess of 2,500 online travel agents, tour operators, hotel groups and airlines having engaged on to date. The ATRs characterize more than 100 nations, comprising of all core markets, which will ensure that tourists of all ages, nationalities and welfares can make the most of their visit to Expo 2020 Dubai with value-added travel packages.”
