UAE travel and tourism sector topmost in Middle East region

The UAE has bagged the topmost position in the Middle East for having the most advanced travel and tourism sector, as per the latest Tourism Outlook: UAE report by Visa.

The study revealed that last year, 8.2million overseas visitors considered UAE as their most sought after holiday destination, although this was 8.8 percent lower than the 9million visitors recorded in the year 2010.

According to data, the international visa account holders spent $4bn on their cards, while in the UAE a 28.7 percent increase was indicated, in comparison to 2010. It has been noted that despite the volatility in the Middle East owing to Arab Spring 2011, with recorded 7% drop in tourism numbers in the region in 2011, the UAE alone emerged as safe haven in the region, continuing to attract international visitors, the report said.

Apart from this, UAE also recorded the highest number of inbound and outbound flights last year, marking a 7.6% increase on the previous year. The Dubai International Airport recorded highest air traffic movements within the UAE.

The report uses actual Visa Card expenditure data to collect information about visitors. Such information has helped in developing and refining several strategic partnerships of Visa with leading retailers including Emirates, Jumeirah Group etc., and Visa’s sponsorship of the iconic DSF over the years.

Visa, being a strong supporter of UAE's tourism sector, is committed to help the government, merchants and other stakeholders in promoting the UAE as one of the best tourism and shopping destinations in the world, said Marcello Baricordi, General Manager of Visa in the UAE.

The VisaVue Travel Data research during DSF 2012 revealed that the total inbound spend on Visa card in the UAE was maximum during the period 5th Januray to 5th February, marking 22 percent increase over the expenditure during the DSF 2011 period.

Looking at this year’s tourism outlook, the UAE report shows that established source markets continue to lead the way in terms of spending in the UAE. However, there is increased growth in travellers from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Angola.

Posted on 10/9/2012

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