Published on : Thursday, March 28, 2019
As Dubai aims 20 million annual visitors by 2020, in addition to five million between October 2020 and April 2021 for Expo 2020 – 70% of which will arrive from other countries outside UAE – couple of efforts to rise stopover tourism have been introduced like new transit visas and dedicated tourism packages.
To quote Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, “Last year, the UAE introduced a new transit visa allowing all transit passengers an exemption from entry fees for 48 hours with the option to extend up to 96 hours for AED 50. This visa is not only good for the country’s tourism sector but for the local economy as a whole, enticing passengers to view their transit not as an unwanted delay in their travels – but as a good opportunity to add value to their trip and experience everything the UAE has to offer.”
As per IATA, by 2037, the Middle East is expected to see an additional 290 million air passengers on routes to, from and within the region, with the total market size rising to 501 million passengers at the same period.
Adding to this, figures from ATM 2018 pinpoints the total number of delegates keen on buying airline products and services increased 13% between 2017 and 2018.
“This projected growth underscores Dubai, and of course the Middle East, as the ideal location to bring together professionals from the aviation and tourism industry for our inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa forum which will be co-located alongside ATM 2019 – taking place on the last two days of the show,” Curtis said.