Dubai Tourism successfully presents its offer in SA

With the events industry finally reopening after a Covid-induced hiatus, Dubai’s Department for Business and Tourism (DET) brought its first roadshow to South Africa in two years.

The multi-city roadshow, which began in Cape Town, headed to Durban and culminated in Johannesburg, was a showcase of its ongoing activities on the African continent and demonstrated Dubai’s renewed commitment to South Africa. After the hugely successful three city tour in South Africa, DET headed east to continue its ongoing operations in sub-Saharan Africa with Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya on the roadshow route.

The intention was to showcase Dubai’s affordable experiences and the variety of offerings the city has to offer to key travel partners as well as SA Tourism and Brand SA in South Africa. Notable highlights during the roadshow included travel, hospitality, entertainment and Dubai’s city-wide events focused on leisure, family travel, education and medical tourism. Breakout networking sessions, partner presentations, one-on-ones, and medical facility updates were key elements that enriched the program.

Known for its ongoing efforts to establish, maintain and showcase its safe, open and accessible sites, Dubai has been ranked as the #1 Global Destination in the 2022 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. DET’s new tourism figures show that overall Dubai’s hotels maintained an average occupancy rate of 76 per cent from January to May 2022. According to data from hotel management analytics firm STR, Dubai ranked first in the world for hotel occupancy, ahead of other international destinations including New York (61 percent). , London (60 percent) and Paris (57 percent) for the period January to April 2022. These are impressive statistics in a post-Covid marketplace.

Individual presentations by the roadshow participants put experiences in their city in a new light. Traveling to Dubai, with its dazzling nightlife and world-class restaurants, is not just for the privileged few. There is a plethora of experiences that cost little to nothing to be enjoyed, ranging from visiting art galleries and exploring museums in the waterfront souk, to driving in the desert and lazy days on the beach, to those in the calm ocean swims with beautiful views. Click on this link to learn more about Dubai experiences that won’t break the bank.

The feedback from participants in the roadshow offered positive feedback. Western Cape Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo commented that she had never considered Dubai as a must-see place but was “now seriously considering a trip there” after seeing what Dubai has to offer as a city for South Africans. She said she is particularly interested in what the medical facilities have to offer and will explore opportunities that may exist related to “health exchange programs”.

Melody Williams said: “I have been pleasantly surprised at how affordable Dubai is and I am impressed by the number of new attractions that have emerged in recent years, the Museum of the Future, the Aura Pool and the Frame.”

Mr. Tareq Binbrek, Assistant Manager, International Relations (Africa) for Dubai Tourism (DET), commented: “Africa is an important market for Dubai Tourism. This is our first post-pandemic roadshow and we’re excited to be back. We were delighted to work closely with our trading partners and speak directly to our audience. A lot of new and exciting things have happened in Dubai since our last visit to this region and so we took the opportunity to share the good news with all our African travelers.”

Organizations accompanying DET to South Africa included hotels, hospitals and other stakeholders in the Dubai Tourism ecosystem.

HOTELS – 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central LLC, Aloft Hotel City Center Deira Dubai, Atlantis The Palm Hotel & Resort, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, Jumeirah Group, Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts LLC, Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre, Radisson Blu Hotel – Dubai Deira Creek, Radisson Hotel Group, Rove La Mer Hotel LLC, SLS Hotel and Residences Dubai LLC, Swiss Hotel Alghuraair LLC, TRYP by Wyndham Dubai and also Terra Sol Hospitality Services.

HEALTHCARE – Dubai Healthcare Authority in collaboration with selected private hospitals.

ATTRACTIONS – Dubai Parks & Resorts, The View At The Palm LLC

AIRLINES – Emirates airline.

DESTINATION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES – Arrival Gate Tourism, Dusk Travel and Tourism, Groups Travel Tourism, Liberty International Tourism