FEATURE DUBAI
C M Y CM MY for a multi-billion-dollar bail out to
prevent all those construction projects from being abandoned in the sand. Such views still linger, admits Dubai
Tourism Commerce Marketing director Ian Scott, who said the tourism board carried out research among consumers and the trade to find out what is discouraging them from booking the destination.
Many consumer ‘misconceptions’ are
shared by the trade and some agents are not selling the emirate because of a lack of understanding of what it offers (see Tourism Talk), the DTCM research showed. What the emirate does offer
is extensive year-round good weather, with guaranteed winter sun; extremely high quality
product – at all levels, due to the hotels being so new – excellent
service levels; duty-free shopping; safe, a crime-free environment;
Dubai is not as culturally rich as its Gulf neighbours but it is ideally suited for young couples and a family holiday
child-friendly activities; a relatively short flight time; excellent value; and a huge number of things to both entertain and take part in. Dubai may not be as culturally ‘rich’
as its Gulf neighbours, such as Oman, but it is ideally suited for families and younger couples. The emirate is also becoming a
major player on the cruise stage and has big plans to expand its cruise facilities. Currently the Port of Dubai welcomes Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean, and there are some very competitive deals (see Where To Book It). Talks have started to build additional cruise terminal facilities at the Dubai Cruise Terminal to cater for an estimated 150 ship calls with more than 600,000 passengers by 2015. It’s a good time to be selling the
Main picture: cycling along Jumeirah Beach with the Burj Al Arab in the background. Left: friendly service at the Jumeriah Beach Hotel.
18 February 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
destination because of its ongoing ‘Kids Go Free’ promotion which offers discounted airfares for children on Emirates plus free or discounted room rates at participating hotels and free or discounted entry to a wide range of attractions. Dubai also plays host annually to a
number of world-class sporting events, including The Dubai Desert Classic, the crown jewel in the European golf tour’s visit to the Middle East (February 6–12); the Dubai Tennis Championships (February 20–March 3) and the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horserace (March 24).
What’s New Emirates is adding two additional new daily services from London Heathrow to Dubai – one from January 24 and the other from March 24. The new flights, using an Airbus A380, will bring the total number of flights from the UK to Dubai to 140 a week, from six regional airports.
CY CMY K
JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72