Booming tourism brings ripple benefits to economy as a whole

The United Arab Emirates is growing to become a popular holiday destination for increasing numbers of inbound travellers coming from Korea with desert safaris, sightseeing tours around Abu Dhabi, and Ferrari World on Yas Island are always a big favourite for holidaymakers in addition to a round of golf on one of the many golf courses in and around Abu Dhabi, UAE Ambassador to Korea Abdulla Al Romaithi said.

‘Noteworthy nowadays is jumping of Korean business travellers on the bandwagon to the UAE and beyond taking advantage of convenient air connections and services provided by Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines having code sharing agreements with other major international air carriers with extensive global networks,’ he pointed out in a recent interview with the Korea Travel Times and its sister monthly magazine Trevie both of which enjoy the largest circulation in Korean travel trade business sector.

‘Against this backdrop, UAE’s tourism and shopping sector has been projected to grow at a healthy 6.5 per cent annually until 2021,’ he said.

UAE envoy disclosed that the 27 square kilometer Saadiyat Island which lies 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi will shortly emerge as another tourist attraction for foreign visitors for Louvre and Guggenheim museums, as well as the Zayed museum now under construction on the island which also houses a campus for New York University and homes for 145,000 residents.

When asked to comment on UAE’s bid to host 2020 Dubai Expo, he said that the UAE’s success of hosting prestigious international events will boost its likelihood to win the bid for hosting the world expo 2020.

He noted that the UAE had built a world-class infrastructure and diversified its sources of income, thus earning a reputed place in the world’s economy, and this makes it a destination of choice for international businesses and investment.

The UAE Pavilion at EXPO 2012 Yeosu Korea has been awarded a Silver Medal for its creative display. With over 100 participating countries, categorized into A, B, and C classes, depending on their level of participation, the UAE was assessed alongside ten other major nations in the top-rated A Class.

The B.I.E. Medal Awards are hotly contested by the participating countries at EXPO. The UAE’s achievement in beating all other members of the top class was widely recognized as high praise for its on message media and imaginative displays, including around ten films on a variety of aspects of the UAE seas and coasts. The bronze medal for creative display was awarded to Australia and other competing nations included USA, Japan, Russia, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Spain and Denmark.

‘I take the opportunity to congratulate our Korean friends on hosting a very successful EXPO event on the globally important theme of Living Ocean and Coast,’ stated His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the National Media Council that is responsible for running the UAE Pavilion at B.I.E. s Expo events. ‘I am also pleased that we have received this recognition of our sustained efforts to make a positive contribution to the EXPO movement, led by B.I.E. We look forward to participating at EXPO 2015 in Milan, at EXPO 2017, and indeed to the hoped for successful outcome of our bid to host EXPO 2020 in Dubai. I believe that awards such as this demonstrate our serious commitment towards, and understanding of, the core values of B.I.E. and the main goals of all such events. I can promise all participating countries that the UAE is putting all its weight behind the 2020 bid and that, if successful, the event itself will remain true to these values whilst creating a display that will live long in people’s memories and contribute towards positive change in different fields.’

‘The well-prepared infrastructure in Dubai for the global event, harmonious socioeconomic climate friendly towards multinational corporations and 200 plus nationalities now residing in the cosmopolitan city of religious tolerance are among the positive factors which Dubai is proud of,’ Amb. Al Romaithi said.

He then pointed out that U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council has recently voiced its support for the United Arab Emirates’ bid to host the 2020 World Exposition in Dubai under the theme: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

‘The federal campaign’s theme perfectly embodies Dubai’s standing as one of the most diverse cities in the world and its position as a global hub for commerce, knowledge, and innovation. The bid also underscores the UAE’ increasingly important role in regional and global affairs,’ he said.

Leadership of the UAE and its deserving community are poised to deliver a truly remarkable and ground-breaking exposition, buoyed by the UAE’ central geographic location, world class infrastructure, and proven track record of hosting world-class events, he added.

‘The secret to the UAE’s tourism and shopping boom has been attributed to the diversification of its offerings, which lures visitors of all ages, nationalities, cultures and tastes. By enticing more tourists to the country we intend to bring ripple benefits to the infrastructure, the industry and the economy as a whole,’ he concluded.