Dubai hosts largest ever Chinese tourism delegation
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) hostedthe biggest-ever Chinese delegation of tourists and mediarepresentatives since the establishment of its three RepresentativeOffices in the world’s most-populous country and the ApprovedDestination Status (ADS) agreement between UAE-China coming intoeffective on September 15.
At a dinner reception hosted recently for the visitors at the Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Resort and Spa, DTCM officials expressed happiness at the arrival of first officially-approved Chinese group of tourists, including 16 media representatives. The event was attended by Mr. Gao Youzhen, Consul General of China for Dubai and Northern Emirates.
The DTCM Director of Overseas Promotions, Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, said: “The hosting of this big group – the first since the start of Approved Destination Status – clearly reflects the strong relations between China and Dubai. China has been on Dubai tourism industry’s radar as a huge-potential source market. We look forward to constant flow of Chinese tourists to Dubai in the coming years.”
Over 96,300 Chinese guests stayed in Dubai hotels in 2008, up by four percent compared with the previous year. In 2004, Dubai government-owned Emirates Airlines opened its office in China in line with the start of its flights to China. In 2007, the UAE and China signed a MoU for the Approved Destination Status (ADS). In 2008, DTCM opened representation offices in three Chinese cities - Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. China is the only country where DTCM has three offices.
Mr. Abdullah bin Suwaidan, DTCM Deputy Director Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, said in the recent years, air connectivity between China and UAE increased substantially with 44 weekly flights available currently between the two destinations.
With three offices in China, DTCM is aggressively promoting Dubai in the mainland China which will be the largest tourism outbound source market and top tourist destination by 2020.
In 2009-2010, our efforts will be to reach out to the travel industry and making the destination more attractive to Chinese visitors, Mr. Al Geziry said.
He said:”We are confident that tour operators and hotels will come out with packages and facilities that will suit the Chinese tourists.”
Reported by the Chinese National Tourism Administration (CNTA), the UAE has gained an Approved Destination Status (ADS) country. It has been authorized and will be effective from September 15 this year.
The Chinese government still controls Chinese travel to overseas with travel for leisure purposes only allowed to the destination that have entered into ADS agreement with China. Gaining ADS status has the considerable advantage of allowing the destination country to promote Chinese tourism to their country in China.
-ENDS-
Comments are closed.