Leading UK Travel Agents get a taste of Ramadan

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), in its efforts to dispel the misconceptions about travelling to the region during the holy month of Ramadan, has recently organized a familiarization tour of the emirate for two groups of leading travel agents from the UK. Each group consisted of 25 travel agents.

DTCM Manager Missions, Hamad bin Mejren, said these familiarization trips will help in convincing the travel agents and dispelling reservations about visiting Dubai during the holy month of Ramadan. "The department has distributed copies of informative booklet titled 'A Taste of Ramadan' to all the hotels and the DTCM's Visitors Information Bureaus in Dubai. A large number of copies have been sent to the DTCM's network of 13 overseas offices for distribution among the travel trade professionals and media. Organizing such educative visits for the travel industry professionals shows our dedication and seriousness about promoting Dubai as a round-the-year destination," said Mr. bin Mejren.

Speaking about the growth in the numbers of visitors from the UK to the emirate, Mr. bin Mejren remarked: "The number of Dubai hotel establishment guests from the UK registered an appreciable increase of 15.19 per cent in 2002 compared with the year 2001".

Mr. bin Mejren said the department has entertained a total of 50 travel agents during the eight-day familiarization tours of Dubai. "These visits will enlighten the travel agents about the way of life in Dubai during the holy month of Ramadan. They would in turn be able to confidently explain to their customers about the unique opportunity they will get to explore Dubai's culture and traditions during this time of the year," he added.

The visiting groups have been taken on a city tour in addition to being familiarized with various aspects of the holy month of Ramadan like Iftar and Suhoor. A tour of the Jumeirah Mosque is also on the agenda. "This will help them understand our culture and traditions in a better way and how we have preserved our heritage," said Mr. bin Mejren.