dubai
9
stop over
time to D
Route your clients via Dubai with a short-stay stopover on their way elsewhere and itineraries can take on a whole new dimension, says Julie Baxter
ubai Tourism has set itself the ambitious goal of attracting 20 million visitors to the emirate by
2020 and, as home to the world’s busiest airport, one way it intends to meet that target is to attract more stopover business. Dubai International Airport is a truly global
hub, with more than 70 million passengers travelling through it each year. The airport serves 140 airlines operating 260 destinations across six continents so the potential to build business via the extensive fl ight networks operating to the destination is obvious. The emirate can fairly claim to be among the best connected destinations in the world and just a brief look at the Emirates’ network alone fl ags up the opportunities. The airline operates from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Dublin to Dubai and from there has onward connections to more than 15 other Middle East destinations, nearly 30 Asian destinations, over 20 destinations in Africa, as well as good links to popular Indian Ocean holiday hotspots such as Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Qantas, which works in partnership with Emirates, offers further daily fl ights from Heathrow to Sydney and Melbourne via Dubai; and then there are additional network connections through the emirate offered by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Royal Brunei to swell the itinerary options yet further. UK visitors were up
Perfect ten
Break the journey: An especially good bonus for families considering a long haul destination and dreading the fl ight. Added interest: Complements a fl y and fl op do-nothing destination with
loads of things to see and do Shopper’s paradise: The perfect stopover for souvenir hunters. Dubai’s
shopping experiences are legendary. Repeat business: A stopover in Dubai will whet your clients’ appetite so be
prepared to follow up for a repeat booking when they decide to go back for more. Painless Australasia: A stopover in Dubai converts a trip downunder into two painless hops rather than one long and daunting endurance test.
Great added value: Book Dubai in summer and the prices can be very
competitive adding a great value component to a longer more expensive trip. Luxurious touches: The emirate’s luxury can add a touch of high-end style
“Dubai really does have
to any itinerary. Action & adventure: Dubai can add adventure – from sky-dives to desert safaris, skiing to zip-wires.
something for everybody. Under seven hours from the UK it offers guaranteed sunshine and an amazing selection of awe-
inspiring attractions” SARAH PERRY, THOMAS COOK
by 11.3% in 2014 and interest in the emirate is clearly strong, so now is a good time to encourage travellers transiting through the airport to check in for a couple of nights exploring Dubai. Combine Dubai with Australasia and the long journey time downunder suddenly looks much more do-able; combine it with the Indian Ocean and your client can mix do- nothing destinations with a raft of cultural and adventure activities in Dubai. Daily services between Dubai and Bangkok or Phuket make Thailand a compelling twin centre too. Many leading hotel groups based in the emirate
have sister hotels in other destinations and may offer cross-destination deals. Among those worth checking out are Sofi tel, Hilton and Ritz-Carlton which have hotels in the emirate and in Thailand. Jumeirah, JA Resorts & Hotels and One&Only which along with Hilton and Sofi tel have hotels in Dubai and in the Indian Ocean; or for those heading to Australasia, One&Only, Sofi tel, Hilton and Hyatt have offerings which might fi t the bill.
The Palm Dubai beach
Culture: Cultural
experiences abound from Bedouin hospitality and galleries to museums and mosques.
Summer savings: Many
hotels offer
complimentary half-board for great savings between May and September.
Tourism talk
“Dubai has a huge amount to offer holidaymakers regardless of how much time they stay, from its famous landmarks
like the iconic Burj Kalifa, to the cultural treasures of Old Dubai and the adrenaline adventure offered by desert safaris. Stopovers may not be an option the trade automatically thinks of but we’d like to change that. Many clients travel through Dubai en route to other destinations such as Thailand, the Indian Ocean or Australasia and we believe encouraging them to leave the airport and experience a few days in Dubai will really enhance their itinerary as well as breaking what can be a long journey to their fi nal holiday destination. We launched a Dubai Stopover Guide earlier this year to help highlight simple stopover itineraries the trade can recommend and show the range of easy hotel combinations on offer.” Ian Scott, Director, Dubai Tourism UK and Ireland
sellingtravel.co.uk
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