Which tour board is tops?

DUBAI --- Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing was awarded 'Best Tourist Board' at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards in London earlier this month. The Awards are voted for by UK travel agents and industry experts, and with previous winners including the likes of BrandUSA and VisitEngland, the win is testament to the continued hard work and dedication of Dubai Tourism’s London office in promoting Dubai.

By focusing on and promoting the expansion and diversification of Dubai’s hotel portfolio, the increase in the emirate’s connectivity and accessibility, as well as the continued growth of its destination offering, much progress has been made over the past year in raising the profile of Dubai’s tourism and commercial offering in the UK. This is reflected in the 11% year-on-year increase in UK visitors to the emirate recorded during the first 12 months of 2015. With Dubai’s Tourism Vision for 2020 targeting 20 million visitors per year by 2020, this prestigious award indicates that the emirate is moving in the right direction, reflecting the commitment of Dubai Tourism to achieving this goal.

Commenting on the award, Issam Kazim, CEO - Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: "This significant win recognizes the work and passion that goes into the promotion of Dubai on a global scale. The UK has long been one of our best performing markets, featuring among the top three source markets for inbound tourism for more than ten years in a row, and we will continue to invest in the region to ensure continued growth. Our goal is to welcome more than two million visitors per year from the UK by the start of the next decade, and while this is an ambitious target, it is ultimately an achievable one thanks to the support we continue to receive from the UK travel industry and its close partnership with key Dubai stakeholders."

With Dubai having welcomed an unprecedented number of visitors from the UK over the 2015 summer period, it is clear the emirate presents a great value summer destination, with UK travellers expected to again make the most of the deals on offer at hotels, resorts and attractions across the city this summer. Annual seasonal events such as Dubai Summer Surprises are also expected to continue to drive international interest during this period.

Looking ahead, Dubai Tourism’s London office is committed to building on the solid foundations laid in 2015 and accelerating the pace of growth over the next 12 months, ultimately ensuring that Dubai’s Tourism Vision for 2020 is realized.