DTCM INDIA HOSTS 52 DUBAI EXPERT CERTIFIED BUYERS

DTCM INDIA HOSTS 52 DUBAI EXPERT CERTIFIED BUYERS

 AT THE ATM - 2012

Mumbai, 26 May 2012:   Dubai’s vibrant tourism industry showcased its ever-enhancing appeal as a year-round business and leisure destination to the world at the 2012 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), one of the biggest travel and tourism show in the world, which took place from the 30^th of April – 3^rd of May.  The four-day fair was held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The Dubai Stand which measured 1195 square metres had about 183 companies and 6 government organizations [such as Dubai Police, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai), Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Healthcare City and Ministry of Social Affairs and Community Development] representing a 29 per cent increase in the number of co-participants at the Dubai Stand this year as compared with the previous edition. 

The Dubai Stand saw 16 new co-participants- Aero Space Tourism, Dubai Camel Racing Club, Skylink Travels, Rixos Hotel, Peacock International Hotel, Balloon Adventures Emirates, Suha City Hotel, Europcar, Easy Booking Tourism, Royal Pamir Travels, Belhasa Travel, Hues Boutique Hotel, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Tropic International Tourism and Travel, Mount Royal Hotel and Montreal Hotel.

Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, DTCM Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, said “Dubai Stand co-participants showcased their latest tourism products offering while DTCM utilized the opportunity to promote and market various initiatives like the new Hotel Classification, Definitely Dubai, Dubai Experts and Dubai Green Tourism Award.” DTCM hosted 204 tour operators and media representatives from 19 Countries across the world. 

DTCM India managed to host around 52 buyers (a mix of travel agents and media) all of whom who had successfully completed the Dubai Expert Online Training Programme.  The 52 buyers were introduced to the Department of Naturalisation and Residency Dubai (DNRD) by Mr. Carl Vaz, Director - DTCM India.  The 2 senior officials that the Dubai Expert Certified members met with during the ATM were 1st Lieutenant Salem Mohd. Bin Ali - Head of Residency & Foreigners Affairs Section / Difc and Lieutenant Ali Obiad Almuhairi - Entry Permit Department.  The buyers were also introduced to the other sellers such as Hotel chains and Destination Management Companies at the DTCM exhibit. 

The 52 hosted buyers were also given their Dubai Expert certificates at the DTCM exhibit. The certificates were presented to the buyers by Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Business Development and Media Relations followed by a group photograph near the Majlis in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, the Director General - DTCM, Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, DTCM’s Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions and Mr. Satish Bhaskaran, DTCM Executive Director of Administration. 

The 3^rd day of the ATM saw 10 lucky Dubai experts get facilitated at the Dubai Expert Award ceremony held at the DTCM majlis in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, the Director General - DTCM, Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, DTCM’s Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, Mr. Satish Bhaskaran, DTCM Executive Director of Administration and Mr. Shafeeq Hamza - DTCM – I.T.  The 2 winners from India were Mr. Jason Samuel from Mumbai and Mr. Sanjay Maniar from Kolkata. Each winner got a Burj Khalifa crystal piece with their names engraved on it along with a group photo session.

Commenting on the success of the ATM 2012, Mr. Carl Vaz, Director - DTCM India said, “We feel proud to have successfully hosted around 52 buyers from India who are all decision makers representing different parts of the Country.  These buyers had not only successfully completed the Dubai Expert Online Training Programme but were handpicked after carefully evaluating their ability to aggressively promote and market Dubai.”

With regards to India consecutively ranking as the top source market globally for visitor traffic into Dubai, Mr. Vaz said, “India represents the 2^nd top source market (after Saudi Arabia) for inward visitor traffic into Dubai with the total number of Indian guests amounting to 207,774 in the first quarter of 2012 representing a 11% increase from 186,478 in January – March 2011 last year.   The total number of Indian visitors utilizing hotels and hotel apartments in the Emirate in 2011 was 702,142 as opposed to 638,103 Indian travellers in the year 2010 representing a 10% increase in growth rate.”

About Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing

The DTCM’s primary task is to promote the commercial and tourism interests of Dubai in the international arena. It is also the principal authority that is responsible for overall supervision and development of the tourism section in the Emirate.

         

Its administrative responsibilities within Dubai include issuing licenses for hotels, tour operators, tourist transport companies and travel agents. It also supervises maintenance and protection of archaeological and heritage sites, operates tourist information services and organizes tourism related conferences and exhibitions.

         

About DTCM India Representative Office:

The Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has had a representative office in India for over eight years which has been functioning as an initial contact point and query-processing centre for the Indian travel trade interested in doing business in Dubai. The India office aims at promoting commerce and tourism, through the organization of marketing activities such as presentations, road shows, advertising, brochure distribution, direct sales meetings and media education programmes, which include familiarization visits for business and travel journalists to Dubai.

The DTCM expects to play an important role in boosting bilateral ties by promoting a widespread awareness of the opportunities Dubai has to offer in both business and tourism. The presence in Mumbai brings to 18 the total number of offices in the DTCM’s international network.