DTCM LEADS 19-STRONG DUBAI TRAVEL TRADE DELEGATION TO MOSCOW

The Government of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is leading a 19-strong travel industry delegation to participate in the forthcoming Seventh International Trade Fair for Tourism in Moscow - Leisure 2001 (17th to 20th October).

"Russia is a major source of visitors to Dubai and recent surveys have indicated that the Russian tourism industry is on the road to recovery following the economic crisis in 1998 with the Russian outbound traffic increasing significantly," said DTCM Director General, Khalid A. bin Sulayem.

He remarked that according to a report issued by the World Tourism Organisation, more than 12 million people from the CIS travel abroad every year. The increasing number of Russian outbound travelers is expected to place Russia in 10th position of the major tourism producing countries by 2020.

"The DTCM is working the whole year round to attract more Russian business and leisure visitors, through our marketing activities in Russia, and we will follow up our participation at Leisure 2001 with roadshows in Moscow and St. Petersburg," remarked Mr. bin Sulayem.

The event is being organized by Messe-Service-International under the patronage of the Tourism Department of the Russian Ministry for Economic Development and Trade The Moscow City Government. Dubai's hotels received almost 200,000 guests from Russia last year while the Russian tourism industry is still on the road to recovery following the economic crisis in 1998.

"As many as 526 Russian tour operators are promoting Dubai packages across Russia and this will ensure that the number of Russian visitors increases even further," Mr. bin Sulayem added.

DTCM is participating at Leisure for the fifth consecutive time and will be promoting Dubai from an 82 sq.m. stand. DSF and DSS will also be promoted at the exhibition and the department will be conducting a tourism presentation for leading Russian tour operators at the event.

DTCM Executive Overseas Promotion, Khalifa Buamaim will represent the department at the event. Leisure 2001 provides an outstanding platform to access the Russian market, establish new business contacts, sign contracts with Russian travel agents and meet a very interested general public. Last year's event attracted 24 National Tourism Authorities and a total of 570 exhibitors from 47 countries.