DTCM Unveil Business And Family Tourism Initiatives At GIBTM-2010

Kids go Free being promoted in 70 countries. 83 hotels join family tourism initiative starting from May 14. Dubai Bid Alliance helping attract MICE business.

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has unveiled its latest business and family tourism initiatives at the fourth edition of Gulf Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) which concludes in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday after a three-day run.

Participating in the annual event for the fourth successive year, the department, along with its 52 co-participants, is utilizing the niche event to promote and market the emirate as ideal year-round Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination.

The size of Dubai Stand and the number of co-participants at the show have increased this year compared with the previous years. The 408-square-metres Dubai stand has been utilized to promote Definitely Dubai portal for visitors of the emirate.

The DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, after opening the Dubai Stand, said the relations between Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been strong, especially in tourism domain.

He said tourism in the emirate has remained a major contributor to the economy and an attractive segment for investments. The tourism sector continues to witness developments, including opening of new hotels and additional room capacities, this year.

He said the exhibition was also being utilized to promote various business tourism initiatives like Dubai Bid Alliance taken up by Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB), the specialized MICE segment unit of DTCM.

He said Definitely Dubai portal will be translated into Arabic and other languages in order to enlarge of scope of activities and create awareness about the emirate as a year-round business and leisure tourism destination.

Mr. bin Sulayem said Kids Go Free promotion underlines our strategy of further establishing Dubai as a year-round destination and appealing to all target groups with our extensive offer. The active participation of more than 80 hotels in five and three-star categories in this promotion speak volumes about the measures to entice tourists to Dubai in the economically-challenging times.”

Under the five-month promotion starting May 14, two children below 16 years of age can fly free of charge with Emirates Airlines to Dubai from any destination, if they are accompanied by two paying adults. The same applies to the accommodation in the hotel, to airport transfers, meals and admission to the numerous tourist attractions in the emirate.

Mr. bin Sulayem said the initiative, aimed at families, will be promoted and marketed in 70 countries in Europe, Americas, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa among other places.

DCB has been working to bring more global conferences to Dubai by initiating Dubai Bid Alliance. It has identified 120 global conferences that can be tapped for Dubai tourism industry in different segments. Dubai Bid Alliance (DBA) was formed to offer a comprehensive package of necessary products and partners to prospective congress event organizers. Founding DBA committee members include Dubai Convention Bureau, Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre and Emirates Airlines.
 

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