Dubai seeks to attract more tourists from China

Top Stories

Dubai seeks to attract more tourists from China

Dubai - Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Tourism, visited the headquarters of UnionPay International. He signed an MoU with UnionPay chief brand officer, Dong Li, agreeing on collaborative marketing initiatives.

By Staff Report

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Tue 2 Feb 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Wed 3 Feb 2016, 10:01 AM

 Dubai is pulling out all stops to attract millions of potential travellers from China. Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) recently entered into partnerships with two of China's biggest industry players in Shanghai.
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Tourism, visited the headquarters of UnionPay International. He signed an MoU with UnionPay chief brand officer, Dong Li, agreeing on collaborative marketing initiatives.
Kazim also met with Yu Dunde, CEO of Tuniu, one of China's biggest online leisure travel service platforms, to create a strategic relationship that will facilitate Chinese visits to Dubai.
The collaboration between UnionPay and Dubai Tourism will enhance the service quality for UnionPay cardholders visiting Dubai. Beginning on February 1 and continuing through the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival period until the end of the month, UnionPay card holders will be able to enjoy a 10 to 25 per cent discount across 120 shopping centres, attractions, hotels and restaurants in Dubai.
Dubai Tourism's partnership with Tuniu aims to introduce a more diverse range of travel products to the Chinese market, showcasing Dubai as a premier destination for both business and leisure travel.
Kazim said: "Over the past year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of arrivals from China, with 450,000 Chinese visitors making the trip to Dubai in 2015, topping our leader board of year-on-year growth trends with a 29 per cent increase in numbers.
"Attracting so many tourists from this country is a significant achievement for us, and it didn't happen overnight. We strive to continue our work with strategic partners such as UnionPay and Tuniu to promote the full spectrum of Dubai's tourism offering to a diverse range of Chinese tourists.
"Through our global connectivity as an airline hub and with 12 gateways between China and Dubai, we are well primed to be a compelling preferred destination and transit stopover for Chinese travellers."
Dubai's mix of shopping, hotels and attractions has led to increasing consideration among Chinese travellers. China climbed into Dubai's top 10 source markets for inbound tourism for the first time last year. With outbound tourists from China expected to double by 2020, China is set to play a central role in realising Dubai's Tourism Vision for 2020, which aims to welcome 20 million visitors per year by the start of the next decade.
Dubai aims to capture this growing market by offering Chinese travellers a simple online visa application service, non-stop flights from China and leisure facilities with Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking staff, localised menus and guides for Chinese visitors.
business@khaleejtimes.com 


More news from