Dubai sets new record in visitor traffic

Overnight visitors to Dubai soared five per cent to 14.9 million in 2016, largely spurred by an upswing in traffic from the GCC, India, Pakistan, China, Britain and Russia.
Recording a four-year annual growth of eight per cent, which is twice the global travel industry growth, Dubai remained on course to hit a target of 20 million visitors by 2020, despite "a period of unforeseen macro-economic upheavals," Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) said.
The 2016 visitor traffic growth reflects a four-year CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of eight per cent at an impressive pace that is twice the global travel industry growth of four per cent.
"This performance trajectory cements the foundation for Dubai to maintain a stable momentum over the next three years and attain its 2020 goals, Dubai Tourism said.
"Dubai has continued to grow its share of outbound travel market despite three of its largest source markets witnessing disruptions, coupled with debilitating international factors and a cautious global consumer sentiment," Dubai Tourism said.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, said in 2016 Dubai "rallied strong, and ramped up the momentum" to significantly outpace the four-year global industry average by double.
He said Dubai has cemented its ranking as the fourth most visited city in the world, "critically delivering the highest value to the domestic economy with our number one ranking in terms of spend per tourist compared to any other competitor destination."  
Kulwant Singh, chairman of Lama Tours, a leading tour operator, said the growth in tourist arrivals is reflective of the Dubai's aggressive and diversified marketing strategies and initiatives coupled with new hotels, excursions and attractions including Dubai Parks & Resorts, IMG and City Walk.
"What ultimately sustained Dubai's position in the global market despite the economic slowdown was due of its multi-source visitation strategy. Dubai was able to balance out its risk exposure to specific geographies, shift its investment to other growing markets and targeting niche segments within their stronghold markets," said Singh.
Almarri said growth in tourist arrivals through a period of unforeseen macro-economic upheavals particularly across feeder markets, validates the ability of Dubai's tourism sector to adapt and respond with agility in all markets; effectively diversify investments and deploy strategies to minimise single-market exposure; and dynamically converge as an industry across government, private and public sector to grow its destination appeal and competitiveness.
Leading the list of traffic generators to Dubai in 2016, India brought in nearly 1.8 million overnight tourists, up 12 per cent, while Pakistan, which is among the top 10 markets, delivered 607,000 tourists at 18 per cent growth.
"Expectations on tourism growth from India remain high for 2017 with even stronger bilateral ties being forged between the UAE and India," Dubai Tourism said.
Highlights of 2016 include the massive 20 per cent   boost in Chinese visitors, crossing the half million mark for the first time with 540,000 tourists arriving in Dubai; and the definitive resurgence of Russian inbound tourism recording a 14 per cent growth in overnight traffic. "Both countries are only expected to further accelerate through 2017 thanks to the UAE's recent implementation of visas-on-arrival for all their citizens," Almarri said.
The GCC remained the number one volume generator for tourism to Dubai with a total of 3.4 million visitors, up five per cent over 2015. Within the GCC, Saudi Arabia led with over 1.6 million visitors followed by Oman accounting for over one million travellers. Visitors from Kuwait and Qatar registered an annual two and nine per cent growth respectively.
Western Europe accounted for 21 per cent of the traffic with more than 3.1 million tourists, up four per cent. 
The UK retained its position as Dubai's number three market with 1.25 million visitors, while Germany stayed among the top 10 with 460,000 visitors.
Middle East and North African region accounted for 1.6 million visitors despite heightened regional challenges.  
Dubai welcomed a total of 1.36 million travellers from North and Southeast Asian markets. With 540,000 tourists last year, China led the demand from the region. The Philippines accounted for 390,000 visitors.
The Americas collectively accounted for nearly one million travellers,  led by the US with 607,000 visitors, followed by Canada with 176,000 visitors.
Other major regional contributors were Russia, CIS and Central European markets, accounting for five per cent of the overall tourism volumes to Dubai in 2016, led by Russia and Ukraine. The former delivered a particularly resilient comeback with 240,000 visitors, up 14 per cent, and remains on an upward trajectory with Russia becoming the latest entrant on the list of 47 countries exempted from UAE entry visa requirements.
Visitors from African region dropped seven per cent and those from Australasia region declined by nine per cent.  - issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com