When Dubai opens to tourists from 7th July, it will begin to receive tourists from countries that are already open or are opening for tourism, or where people are returning to their normal life, said a senior official.
The Director-General of Dubai Tourism, Helal Saeed Almarri said "Over the last three weeks, we have seen people in many countries returning to their normal way of living - going back to work, while some schools are also opening in some places. We have seen a bit of shift in countries like Germany, Spain, France and Greece. Many of these destinations are either open or opening for tourism market. We expect to start first with the countries that are ready. Although, there are going to be challenges ahead of us, we have great confidence in the tourism sector and Dubai."
The airports in Dubai will begin welcoming tourists from 7th July, after three months of restrictions on international travel, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Although a few countries have opened up their tourism sectors, others continue to have restrictions in place for tourists.
According to Almarri, a PCR test is mandatory for Dubai visitors and they have to undergo a 14-day quarantine if tested positive, at their own expense.
Almarri hopes for a gradual reopening of markets during summer.
Dubai is dynamic enough to face any challenge, and with all precautionary measures in place across the city, the emirate is ready to welcome people. Dubai tourism is expected to recover in the coming months and Dubai will no-doubt be among the top destinations, he said.
In fact, since mid-May, Dubai has begun opening up gradually, and at present all the landmarks are already open. Hotels, beaches, water parks, all have their own safety measures and social distancing rules in place to ensure all feel safe, he pointed out.
“Our tourism offices are open and we are working with over 3000 partners to ensure that all are ready to take bookings”, Al Marri said.
Pointing out to the fact that Dubai is one of the top five destinations that people are looking for, he said that Emirates and Flydubai have seen a lot of interest and there are strong bookings by individuals and small groups including families, Al Marri said.
Dubai received a record 16.73 million visitors overnight in 2019, an all-time high, growing by 5.1 percent and surpassing growth forecast of UN World Tourism Organization by more than one percent.
Almarri said if there is a challenge in a specific market, the emirate will turn its focus on other markets. There are plenty of people considering travel this year too. With international markets opening up, Dubai is working with concerned authorities to get back in a strong way, he emphasized.
“We are very sure that tourism in Dubai will overcome this challenge very quickly. In reality, people have already started looking at their next destination and Dubai is at the top of their list," Al Marri said, adding that Dubai will very soon return to pre-Covid levels.
However, there will be challenges, and it will not be a smooth sail for the global tourism industry, he noted.
