The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is focusing on enhancing the customer experience and leveraging word-of-mouth to attract visitors to the region. In an interview with TTJ, Bader Ali Habib, Head, Region-South Asia, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, shared insights on Dubai’s strategy for the India market, including organising regular partner meetings and a series of workshops to increase awareness around tourism in Dubai. The department is also exploring opportunities to attract visitors through stopovers and layovers, and is committed to providing a memorable travel experience for post-pandemic travellers.
– Vartik Sethi
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is capitalising on the region’s world-class facilities and tourist attractions to fuel its strategies and attract visitors from all over the world. With a renewed focus on enhancing the customer experience and leveraging the power of word-of-mouth, the department is well-prepared to achieve its goals.
In an interview with Travel Trade Journal, Bader Ali Habib, Head, Region- South Asia, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, shared insights on Dubai’s key focus for 2023 in relation to the India market. Habib emphasised the importance of organising regular partner meetings to enhance communication and refine the department’s strategy with the Indian trade. To this end, the department is planning a series of one-of-a-kind workshops aimed at increasing awareness about tourism in Dubai. These tactical workshops will primarily focus on various aspects of Dubai’s attractions and increasing visitor numbers in the region.
One of the key strategies of the department includes leveraging the power of stopovers and layovers in Dubai as they open a wide market to attract visitors. “Attracting these visitors by providing them with added value is a promising area. We are very sure that these visitors will definitely step into the city, and spend a night or two in Dubai,” says Habib. The department is also keen on exploring India’s tier 2 and tier 3 markets and realises the immensely high potential in these cities.
According to customer data, post-pandemic travellers are showing a heightened awareness of their destinations. To meet the demands of this discerning audience, the department is fully committed to providing a memorable travel experience to travellers of all types, with varying travel aspirations and goals. With the increasing popularity of Dubai as both a travel and work destination, the tourism segment is ripe with opportunities.
The merger with the Department of Economy is focused on creating a welcoming environment for visitors and foreign residents, ensuring their satisfaction and contentment and leveraging the power of positive word-of-mouth. In addition, the Dubai Department of Economy is eager to continue some of their successful initiatives from previous years, such as the Dubai Expo, which has garnered global acclaim and cemented Dubai’s status as a premier destination.
Dubai’s initiatives towards sustainability have been stellar. The city of Dubai is built on a sustainable, self-sufficient model, and the same continues to be a showcase point in all the expos. The offices in the city use a fully recyclable model, setting an example. In fact, the Dubai government has gone paperless in the last two years! Showcasing this sense of responsibility is sure to go a long way in promoting Dubai as a favourabe tourist destination.
The city of Dubai has made impressive strides in its recovery from the pandemic, having already achieved 97 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels (2019-2020) and showing remarkable growth every day. India remains the top market for the city, with safety, world-class infrastructure, and internal tourism contributing to its enduring appeal.
Dubai continues to attract outbound travellers from various countries, particularly India, who are drawn to the city’s many attractions and offerings. The city’s exceptional leaders have significantly contributed to the region’s stronghold on the world. Habib also shared, “The department is also looking at creating Dubai as a wedding destination, and to put together necessary logistics to host destination weddings in Dubai. Local planners, exceptional food menus, and scenic beauty would be the stepping stones towards building the wedding segment in the country.”
