Analyzing Tourism in Dubai: Trends, Growth, and Strategies

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the tourism industry in Dubai, focusing on its remarkable growth and key drivers. It highlights Dubai's position as a top tourist destination, emphasizing the role of trade, modern architecture, shopping, and luxury offerings. The report analyzes factors like visa policies, government initiatives, and VAT refunds that boost visitor numbers. Statistical data reveals the surge in international visitors and hotel occupancy rates, showcasing strong investor confidence. The report also details Dubai's top attractions, including the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Eye, and identifies key source markets like India and Oman. Furthermore, it explores the city's efforts to enhance tourism through increased hotel room inventories and government collaborations, aiming to provide exceptional experiences for visitors. The report concludes by referencing key sources and relevant appendices for further insights.

Research Paper

Table of Contents
Topic: Tourism in Dubai Emirates..................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4
Appendices ......................................................................................................................................5
.........................................................................................................................................................6

Topic: Tourism in Dubai Emirates
Dubai is considered as one of the most popular tourist destination of the world,
where among 10th most visited cities, it captures the 7th position. The growth in trade
and logistics, contribution of oil, gas and petrochemical industries, establishment of ultra
modern architecture, shopping malls, luxury hotels, well-developed theme based parks
and desert attractions etc. helps this country in influencing tourists to visit its
destinations. This emirate of UAE also earned the charm of connecting the bridge
between Asian and Europe countries. According to Waheed Abbas (2018), it has
identified that to reach at top position in 10th most visited cities, Dubai is going to provide
more relaxation in visa policies, that will provide help in meeting its main mission, i.e.
“target to enhance tourism over 20 million tourists till 2020 and 25 million tourists by
2025” (Dubai remains a tourist hotspot, 2018). To meet this rising tourism, Dubai also
concerns on launching some new OYO plans, which includes an increase in inventories
by 10-fold to reach more than 12,000 rooms by 2020 across UAE. Government of Dubai
for sustaining and maintaining the growth in tourist arrivals has put a number of
measures year-on-year, that helps in boosting the visitors (Pike and Kotsi, 2018). It
includes a new transit visa policy that allows tourists the exemption from entry fees who
are travelling through country's airports for a 48-hour visit. It results in opening up a new
wave of visitors to explore this city and discover a number of attractions for their future
holidays. Along with this, being a shopping destination, Dubai Government has also
implemented a new VAT refund system, in order to reduce hotel fees for tourists.
1

Tourism is considered as one of the main cornerstone of diversified economic
growth of Dubai. As per the statistical data released by Dubai tourism (Department of
Tourism and Commerce Marketing), this nation has welcomed near about 8.36 million
international visitors in last six months of 2019, that shows a positive growth of over 3%
rise in volume of tourism as compared to last year (8.36 million tourists visit Dubai in
first half of 2019, 2019). Along with this, average occupancy in Dubai for the hotel sector
has stood at 76%, which refers as one of the highest occupancies in entire world. This
has establishment with a delivering of over 15.71 million occupied room overnights
during first six months of 2019. This has showcased a continued and strong investor
confidence in meeting the tourism demand of Dubai and its market appetite. By 2018,
number of visitors in this city has reached to 16 millions i.e. an increase up to 0.8% as
per latest figures issued by tourism emirates (as shown in appendix). The top attractions
in Dubai includes land of dreams, Mall of Emirates, Burj Khalifa, World Largest Ferris
Wheel (known as Dubai Eye), Mircale Garden etc. Along with this, luxurious lifestyle,
amazing night life, night bars, pubs, world's amazing shopping destinations and more,
consider as most tempting appeals for tourists.
2

As per views of Deena Kamel (2019), it has been estimated that within first
quarter of 2019, Dubai has attracted more than 4.75 million tourists, from Oman that
becomes now as fastest growing source market, to stimulate economic growth by
enhancing tourism. Another source markets include India, Saudi Arabia, China and UK,
for Dubai where growing visitors from Oman with 27% made it as 5th top source market,
while, India always remained at top position (Dubai Tourism grows 2.2% in first quarter
with Oman fastest growing market, 2019). As Dubai seeks to enhance its tourism by
2020 with more improvement in retail and finance sectors, therefore, to provide the
great culinary experience to visitors, it has increased its hotel room inventory. Till March
2019, room inventories has reached over 118,000 which is 8% increase then last year
(as shown in appendix). Luxury five-star hotels of this city has made up 34% of total
inventory of emirates. On the other hand, four-star hotels has represented a quarter
share in the same. While Properties in 1 to 3-star categories of Dubai emirates has
contributed a share of 19%, with 20% by hotel apartments of total inventory. To boost
visitors or encourage them to visit beautiful destinations of Dubai, the most lavish city of
UAE, all sectors of government are now working in collaboration (Reisinger, Michael
and Hayes, 2019). For this purpose, they are concerning more on implementing positive
changes within visa regulations for market source countries like China and Russia.
Mega development has also set to dominate the destinations of Dubai that include Du
and Dubai Creek Harbour, Dubai Eye, Bluewaters Island and more. Furthermore,
Cruise tourism has actively play a significant role in enhancing the position of Dubai in
top most visited cities of world, with more than 625,000 cruise tourists that visiting this
city.
3

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Pike, S., & Kotsi, F. (2018). Stopover destination image–perceptions of Dubai, United
Arab Emirates, among French and Australian travellers. Journal of Travel &
Tourism Marketing. 35(9). 1160-1174.
Reisinger, Y., Michael, N., & Hayes, J. P. (2019). Destination competitiveness from a
tourist perspective: A case of the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of
Tourism Research. 21(2). 259-279.
Online
Dubai remains a tourist hotspot. 2018. [Online] Available Through:
<https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/why-dubai-retains-its-position-
among-worlds-most-visited-cities-in-2018>
8.36 million tourists visit Dubai in first half of 2019. 2019. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai/836-million-tourists-visit-dubai-in-first-
half-of-2019>.
Dubai Tourism grows 2.2% in first quarter with Oman fastest growing market. 2019.
[Online] Available
Through:<https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/dubai-tourism-grows-
2-2-in-first-quarter-with-oman-fastest-growing-market-1.857944>.
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Appendices
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