UK Media explore Dubai

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) recently sponsored a visit of six journalists from some of the UK's leading publications to give them exposure to various aspects of the emirate, which contributes in making Dubai one of the finest tourism destinations in the world.

DTCM Manager Missions, Hamad bin Mejren said that the idea was to give the media personnel an insight into various factors responsible for the growth of tourism in Dubai. "The keenness of the group to study and cover the destination and our commitment to re ensure a firm place of the emirate in the UK market will surely bring remarkable and positive results," held Mr. bin Mejren.

He noted that the group visited the department's Head Office where they were provided with up-to date information about the destination. "By showing them what we have and what the emirate has in store for future, we motivated them to write extensively about the emirate," said Mr. bin Mejren.

Mr. bin Mejren noted that number of UK hotel establishment guests in the emirate have registered an upward trend: "The number of UK hotel establishment guests in the year 2002 showed an increase of 28.27 per cent compared to the year 2001. The number of UK tour operators featuring Dubai in their itinerary also registered an increase of 20.87 in the year 2003 compared to the last year".

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DTCM Officer Mission Marwan Al Marri, who assisted the group, briefed them about achievements of the DTCM regionally as well as internationally. He also dwelt upon the emirate's latest infrastructure and services, which can be availed by visitors. "Assisting journalists is one of the integral strategies of the department to promote Dubai's tourist sites and in turn boost the tourism of the emirate," said Mr. Al Marri.

A city tour was also arranged for the visiting journalists, which gave them a broader picture of the emirate. "We arranged trips to shopping malls, hotels, beaches, desert sites and also showed them a film on Dubai which will help them to understand the history, traditions, heritage and modernisation of the emirate," added Mr. Al Marri.