Dubai, the UAE’s economic capital, is one of the most visited international cities by Indians. As per the statistics revealed to us by the Government of Dubai’s media office, in the first half of 2019, the city welcomed 9,97,000 Indian visitors, in spite of the air traffic and seat capacity challenges that were witnessed earlier this year. Family travel from India to Dubai has been on the rise, growing from 24 per cent to 34 per cent.
In addition to the family and leisure segments, the business travel segment and MICE category have also seen a huge surge. No points for guessing why Dubai is such a preferred MICE (and wedding) destination, given its impressive room inventory of 1,18,345 spread across a total of 714 hotels. Dubai’s hotel capacity, considered among the best in the world, enjoys a healthy average occupancy of 76 per cent, representing a combined 15.71 million occupied room nights for the first half of 2019. This is good news, especially for the luxury hotels, which represent 34 per cent of the total hotel offerings. Dubai has also established itself as an important cruise destination with a 51 per cent rise in tourist footfalls and a 38 per cent increase in cruise ship calls season-on-season.
One of the biggest draws of the year ahead is the much publicised Expo 2020 Dubai, which will bring together global stakeholders to showcase Dubai in the best possible light.
Dubai has now become a go-to destination for Indian travellers for the sheer diversity of offerings as it is a unique combination of desert, beach, luxury and urban landscapes. Its architectural marvels are a delight to visit, while the F&B options in the city are extremely diverse. No longer is Dubai just all about the shopping. Travellers are now enjoying a host of cultural activities as well, such as the Al Fahidi Historical District. Family-friendly experiences like Ski Dubai, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, as well as new attractions like Legoland Dubai and The Green Planet, make it perfect for everyone.
Moreover, direct connectivity between Dubai and India is better than ever with Emirates and Flydubai offering 171 and 30 weekly flights to India respectively.
