Tourist arrivals to the UAE on the rise

Monday, 23 December 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The UAE continues to remain a popular choice for international travellers, with Dubai receiving the bulk of the tourist traffic, new data from Expedia Group revealed.

The data revealed that the top 10 feeder markets were the US, UK, France, India, China, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Italy, and Brazil. There was a significant increase in demand from Brazil and Portugal which could be attributed to the Emirates codeshare partnership with Latam Airlines and direct flights to Porto, both announced earlier this year.

According to the latest data compiled by Expedia Group from the third quarter of 2019, though travellers from the US, UK, and France topped the list for overall demand into the country, travellers from China still showed a robust 50% year on year growth in package demand. A surge in arrivals into Dubai was recorded over the summer months resulting in 12.08 million international overnight visitors in the first nine months of 2019, according to the data released by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

The UAE welcomed 2.89 million Indian tourists in 2018 and it is estimated to grow to 5.29 million by 2024, according to the report by Colliers International done in partnership with Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

Dubai ranks at the forefront of infrastructure, smart governance, technology, business and tourism in the region. With a year-round calendar of world-class events, concerts, and initiatives, Dubai has become an iconic must-visit destination on the world map. The city attracts visitors from across the world thanks to its international events including Dubai Summer Surprises, Art Dubai, Dubai Design Week, Sikka Art Fair, Dubai Fitness Challenge, Dubai Rugby Sevens, and Dubai Marathon.

Expo 2020 Dubai promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience – a global six-month celebration of creativity, innovation, humanity, and world cultures. It is expected to attract over 25 million visitors from over 192 countries that have confirmed their participation.