Dubai tourism defies global financial crisis

Posted on: April 22, 2009

Written by Select Property

April 22nd 2009

Gulf emirate’s tourism rose by 8.3 percent in 2008 despite global economic fallout.

DUBAI – Dubai tourism grew by eight percent last year despite the global financial crisis, the glitzy city-state's tourism department said on Monday.

It said the number of tourists rose to 7.5 million in 2008, compared with 6.95 million in 2007 – an increase of 8.3 percent. Dubai is popular for its year-round hot weather and large number of shopping malls.

The number of overnight stays in 2008 was 22.4 million, compared with 20.5 million in 2007, a rise of 9.2 percent, while the average stay was 7.3 days.

The tourism hub earned 4.16 billion dollars from visitors last year, a 15 percent boost from 3.62 billion dollars in 2006. The number of hotels in the emirate increased to 493 compared with 444 in 2007.

Tourism department chief Khaled Ahmed bin Salim said efforts to promote Dubai as a tourism destination would increase even further in 2009, which will also have an effect on the Dubai property market.

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum told reporters in an e-press conference on Saturday that the emirate has recovered from the worst of the worldwide economic fallout.

"We have overcome the crisis with the least amount of losses," Sheikh Mohammad, who is also United Arab Emirates prime minister, said.