Highlights Of Tourism Industry In Dubai Tourism Essay Example

destination worldwide with 7.6 million visitors, representing a growth rate of approximately 13.8% compared to the previous year (2007/08). Outpacing cities like Singapore and Paris, Dubai is recognized as the most visited city in the Middle East. There is still significant potential for further growth as indicated by the continuous increase in visitors over a six-year period starting from 2004 with a 57% overall increase according to Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) data shown in Table (a).The number of visitors to Dubai increased steadily from 4.9 million in a certain year to 5.4 million in 2005, 5.8 million in 2006, and eventually reaching approximately 8.6 million total visitors. Despite economic challenges such as the subprime mortgage crisis, visitor numbers continued to rise due to tax-free facilities for foreign investors and government support for infrastructure development. Additionally, Dubai's tourism sector experienced significant profits between 2007 and 2009 when the city relied heavily on oil and gas revenues. Various types of foreign visitors are attracted to Dubai including tourists, professionals, businessmen,labor workers,and diplomats. However, this study will primarily focus on tourists as they are most relevant to the discussion topic.

To establish Dubai as a top vacation destination for Western European,Far Eastern,and American tourists,the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) collaborates with private investors.They aim at constructing state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities that provide relaxation and enjoyable experiences.Additionally,DTCM works closely with the interior ministry to ensure safety by controlling crime.Dubai has gained a reputation as one of the safest places where people respect the law.Furthermore,DTCM is responsible for regulating hotels,to guarantee value for money and maintain high standards.This is crucial for preserving the city's reputationThe expat

community in Dubai comprises mainly of Indians and Pakistanis who enjoy the freedom to practice their religion. The city offers easy access to both printed and electronic media. Dubai takes pride in its highly efficient road and traffic policing systems, considered one of the best globally. Many tourists choose to visit during the winter months from November to March when the weather is mild and sunny. Furthermore, Dubai boasts exceptional beach hotels with excellent amenities for guests to enjoy. The city is renowned for its bustling shopping scene, attracting visitors with competitive prices on shopping promenades as well as gold and electronic goods, encouraging multiple purchases. With a widely diverse population that understands English, Dubai has established itself as a global hub. One remarkable aspect of Dubai is its outstanding infrastructure coupled with various attractions that cater to visitors' interests. Among these attractions is the Desert Safari developed by DTCM, which provides tourists an opportunity to delve into both the vibrant rural side and cultural aspects of Dubai. This unique experience showcases the diversity found within the city – from towering skyscrapers to ancient customs observed in its desert wildlife. Moreover, this unforgettable adventure includes a wide range of cuisine options such as traditional Middle Eastern dishes alongside Continental fare available across all Emirates.Dubai's skyline is known for its remarkable collection of skyscrapers, with the Burj-al-Arab holding the prestigious title of the world's tallest building. The city also offers several popular tourist attractions, including Ski Dubai, Wild Wadi Water Park, and Dubai Museum. Originally named Burj Dubai, the Tower of Dubai took over six years to complete and stands out for its impressive height and

architectural design. With a towering height of approximately 800 meters and over 160 stories, it is considered a masterpiece in itself. Despite economic challenges in the property market, the Tower of Dubai continues to attract global attention as it holds various records such as being the tallest building, construction, and free-standing structure. According to its website, this skyscraper surpasses others not only in terms of height but also structure. The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has established three criteria for determining building height; all surpassed by the Tower of Dubai. Furthermore, besides its awe-inspiring height, it boasts numerous attractions such as the highest outdoor observation deck and elevator along with the tallest service elevator. Its overall measurement includes functional equipment from its lowest entrance to its highest pointIn addition, it is worth mentioning that the city houses a world-renowned 7-star hotel that attracts tourists from all over the globe. Another attraction is Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort situated within one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Despite extreme temperature variations, ranging from 48A°C in summer to around 25A°C in winter, Ski Dubai is considered a remarkable accomplishment by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. This facility utilized both human effort and advanced technology to create a beach and ski resort within one city. Ski Dubai offers indoor mountains, slopes with varying levels of steepness, as well as attractions like a mirror labyrinth and snowman-making area. Visitors can rent winter clothing and skiing equipment at this unique location. According to Ski Dubai (2010), the facility maintains a temperature of -1 degrees Celsius during the day and -6 degrees Celsius

at night when producing snow; however, this requires consuming 3000 gallons of oil daily, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Ski Dubai has received recognition for its accomplishments through Thea Outstanding Achievement Award from the Themed Entertainment Association and was also featured on an episode of The Amazing Race Asia during its inaugural season. Another popular recreational destination near Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai is the Wild Wadi Water ParkThis outdoor water park in Dubai offers a variety of attractions, including pools, water surfing sods, and water slides. One notable attraction is the Amazing Race Asia drive, which is the largest water slide outside of America. Other rides and activities at this location include Family drive, Jumeirah Sceirah, Flow Rider, Breakers Bay, Juha Journey, and Juha's Dhow and Lagoon. These offerings cater to families, teenagers, and all types of visitors.

In addition to the water park attractions, Dubai also boasts the historical significance of its Dubai Museum. Built in 1787 and remaining as the oldest building in Dubai, this museum showcases traditional life in Emirate of Dubai. It displays local antiquities as well as artifacts from African and Asian countries with trade relationships dating back to over 3000 BC. The museum attracts a large number of visitors interested in human history and archaeology; Gulf Times (2008) reports that it receives about 1800 daily visitors and over half a million annually.

Furthermore, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai focuses on developing advanced tourism infrastructure. The city provides excellent telecommunication facilities such as high-speed internet services along with reliable telephone lines, mobile networks, fax services facilitated by efficient postal services provided by

the General Postal Authority.Dubai offers a variety of accommodations, including luxury apartments, multi-storey buildings, houses, cottages, and villas. Major shopping malls and recreational facilities provide convenient car parking options. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy a wide range of facilities such as athletics installations, football pitches, swimming pools, cricket bowls, squash and tennis courts, as well as golf facilities. Despite the hot summers and mild winters in Dubai, most residential flats hotels offices are equipped with air-conditioning systems.

Both government-funded and private medical facilities are plentiful in Dubai. Well-equipped public hospitals offer healthcare services alongside private hospitals. The city features a modern airport that operates frequent flights to major cities worldwide.

For those interested in doing business or visiting Dubai, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) provides newsletters, brochures,and posters. According to Ameinfo (2010), tourism contributes approximately $13.8 billion or 30% of Dubai's GDP. International courier services are also available for convenience.Khalid Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Director General of DTCM, highlights the importance of continuous investment, expertise, talent, and knowledge to sustain Dubai's tourism industry. Supporting initiatives like TDIM will stimulate further growth in this sector. Notable participants from both public and private sectors, including Nakheel, Dubai World Central (DWC), Emirates Airlines, Falcon City of Wonders, Dubailand, Aldar Properties, Al Ain Wildlife Parks & Resorts , Al Qudra Real Estate , Al Hanoo Holdings ,the Syrian Ministry of Tourism , B Hotels & Resorts from Egypt have confirmed their participation at the show. The increasing number of tourists presents a substantial economic opportunity for Dubai. Limited natural resources have led to the development of sustainable businesses in order to maintain its economy as discussed in the report's section

on sustainable businesses. The report also examines current government policies aimed at tourism development. Additionally, due to its developing capital markets regulatory environment and division of listings between the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Financial Markets,the UAE was not significantly affected by the initial public offerings in the Gulf region in 2007. Moreover,Dubai actively seeks investments in various types of tourism such as medical tourism, investment tourism educational tourism,and eco-tourismThe educational and eco-tourism sectors present numerous growth opportunities. However, despite the initiation of a project in country C to promote zero pes print, more efforts are needed. Moreover, tourism, particularly medical tourism, is a significant market with many individuals from South Asian countries working in Dubai, including median physicians. Dubai's healthcare infrastructure is highly regarded for its quick and affordable treatment options, making it an attractive destination for tourists seeking medical services. The dental industry specifically has high costs elsewhere, making Dubai a lucrative market opportunity. Additionally, Dubai's status as a hub for finance, IT, and property creates potential collaborations between renowned educational institutions and top international universities. These collaborations not only enhance the competitiveness of the workforce but also facilitate the establishment of research centers across various academic disciplines. The government of Dubai actively promotes tourism in a fair and lawful manner while respecting local culture and laws. They are implementing initiatives to attract individuals from around the world, foster innovation, contribute to economic success, and advance scientific endeavors. These efforts involve partnerships with global universities like Middlesex University's Dubai campus to establish Centers for Excellence.Furthermore, local universities are being developed in partnership with renowned institutions such as Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard. This strategic collaboration

aims to enhance the educational landscape in Dubai. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to promote medical tourism by collaborating with hospitals and key stakeholders.

Moreover, the government of Dubai is making investments in eco-friendly technologies to showcase their commitment to environmental sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint. These initiatives not only aim at attracting socially responsible companies but also encourage environmentally conscious individuals to choose Dubai as their preferred tourist destination.

However, Dubai has faced challenges involving ordinary individuals, particularly from western countries, who have been apprehended by the police for engaging in public displays of affection or possessing small amounts of drugs. Such incidents have had a detrimental impact on Dubai's reputation as a global brand.

Nevertheless, tourism plays a vital role in boosting the economy of Dubai as it offers sustainable alternatives that compensate for the depletion of natural resources. However, effectively communicating with tourists from diverse nationalities poses challenges—especially those visiting for short periods. Henceforth, there may be a need to simplify laws or provide more flexibility for foreign tourists.

Additionally, some people in the West perceive Dubai's laws as hypocritical—a perception that needs addressing and rectifying through effective communication strategies.It is crucial to enhance this perception in order to maintain Dubai's reputation as a modern and highly recognized city. The growth of Dubai's tourism industry can be attributed to lenient laws that have facilitated significant foreign investment. However, further efforts are necessary for Dubai to become globally competitive in this sector. The following actions are recommended: 1. Seek opportunities to host sports events such as football and cricket competitions. 2. Simplify civil laws to make it easier for tourists, as complex laws have caused issues

in the past - evident in a recent incident where a British tourist kissed his girlfriend. 3. Grant citizenship to foreign investors willing to settle in Dubai, as this has proven effective in attracting more visitors from their home countries. 4. Consider introducing an extension of Disney Resort or a similar attraction that incorporates local culture to further boost tourism growth.

Decision and recommendation: -