Dubai launches 2004 edition of Destination Dubai at WTM 2003

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has officially launched the 2004 edition of its flagship travel manual, Destination Dubai, as part of its intensified global campaign to promote the emirate as a perfect and safe round-the-year destination for business and leisure.

The annual publication has been made even more attractive and appealing to the tour operators and travel industry professionals by offering them updated information about every facet of Dubai’s life and the world-class facilities and services that emirate offers to the visitors.

The 112 page glossy manual was released at the Dubai stand at the four-day World Travel Market (WTM 2003) in London.

Dubai’s participation in the WTM is for the 14th straight year and this year witnessed its strongest participation with 90 co-participants sharing 425 square meter stand.

The department has printed nearly 45,000 copies of the English language manual. This is the 13th edition of the publication. Destination Dubai copies are being made available to the industry professionals and others through the DTCM network of 13 overseas offices and visitors information bureaus in Dubai. The manual will also be distributed at travel exhibitions and road shows conducted by the department. 

The DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayam, said: “Destination Dubai has remained very popular among the travel agencies and tour operators as an attractive and informative tool to market the emirate as an attractive holiday destination. 

It offers tour operators all the information they need to put together for a Dubai package from any corner of the world. The manual will further support our aggressive attempts to increase worldwide awareness about the emirate’s attractions and facilities.”

The comprehensive step-by-step travel guide offers invaluable information about everything and anything about Dubai tourism to those who promote the destination as well as the prospective tourists. 

He added: “With five-star leisure facilities, guaranteed sunshine, beautiful beaches and Arabian hospitality, Dubai offers visitors a unique holiday adventure. Superb sporting opportunities, extensive shopping centers, and excellent dining and entertainment facilities, coupled with safe streets, making Dubai a destination second to none.”

The DTCM Manager Media and Advertising, Mr. Ahmed Al Tunaiji, said: “Destination Dubai provides comprehensive details of the emirate’s tourist attractions, facilities, and services. This publication also showcases Dubai’s emergence as an international conference, exhibition and business centre of excellence. The manual is designed to help the travel industry professionals market Dubai vacations more effectively and extensively.”

Destination Dubai offers essential data on travel and tourism in the emirate, including information on airlines, sightseeing, desert safaris and cruise tours.

The tourism directory of this manual has been updated to provide a list of essential services with phone, fax and post box numbers.

The exhaustive tome has a general information section dealing with Dubai’s history, culture, population, visa and customs regulations, health requirements, climate, social life, and lifestyles. Another section offers insights into the mega development projects, including The Palm, currently underway in Dubai.

The manual will be available in German, French, Russian and Italian languages in the near future. The new-look handbook has received strong support from the global tourism industry. DTCM officials present on the stand received appreciative comments from the travel trade and media about the manual. The world’s biggest travel trade show witnessed the participation of over 5,000 exhibitors from 190 countries this year.