“While the global economy remains in a state of flux, we can clearly see an exciting opportunity to further grow Dubai’s dominance in the tourism industry in 2020,” said Dubai Tourism chief Saeed al-Marri, according to the Dubai Media Office.
By country, Indian tourists topped arrivals with nearly two million visiting Dubai, a slight drop from 2018.
They were followed by 1.6 million Saudi visitors to the city-state, one of seven sheikhdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates.
Like last year, Britons came in third with 1.2 million tourists. Visitors from Oman increased 24 percent to over one million, putting the neighbouring country in fourth place.
Chinese tourists rose by 15.5 percent to 989,000 and Russian visitors increased by 7.4 percent to 728,000.
Earlier this month, the UAE introduced a multiple-entry visa scheme valid for five years for all nationalities.
Dubai has the most diversified economy in the region and forecasts record spending this year, with its 2020 budget increasing 17 percent to $18.1 million as it seeks to boost its sagging economy.
The emirate has high hopes that the six-month global trade fair Expo 2020 starting in October will revive its fortunes.
But it still foresees a deficit for the fourth year in a row of $700 million.
The government is hoping Expo will attract 25 million visits, most of them from abroad, and is projecting a 25 percent increase in revenues to $17.4 billion.
Dubai is the only government in the Gulf not dependent on hydrocarbon revenues, and projects around 94 percent of income to come from non-oil sources.
The desert city has large numbers of opulent shopping malls, luxury resorts and even an indoor ski slope.
Islamabad, March 28, 2024: Onic, the new digital telco brand in Pakistan and Careem, the…
In the intricate tapestry of Pakistan’s journey towards technological and economic renaissance, the insights of…
Sindh: Senate elections, final list of candidates released The Election Commission of Sindh has released…
The Federal Cabinet approved the inclusion of 24 names in the ECL The federal cabinet…
The recent incidents of terrorism in Pakistan, notably in Gwadar, Turbat, and Besham, are dastardly…
Pakistan Stock Exchange: Index hits new high of 67,208 The Pakistan Stock Exchange 100 index…
Leave a Comment