· Additional three million international visitors
expected to visit UAE over the Expo period of 2020 to 2021
· Arrivals from India, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, UK
and Pakistan dominating increase in visitors to UAE by 2021
An additional three million international visitors are expected to visit
the UAE during Expo 2020, with arrivals from India, Saudi Arabia, Philippines,
UK and Pakistan driving this influx, according to the latest data released
ahead of Arabian
Travel Market (ATM) 2020, which takes place at Dubai World Trade
Centre from Sunday 19 – Wednesday 22 April 2020.
The research from Colliers
International, in partnership with ATM, predicts the number of
Indian visitors travelling to the UAE will increase by 770,000 between 2020 and
2021, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia will increase 240,000, Philippines and
UK both 150,000 and Pakistan 140,000, during the same time period.
Looking to acquire their share of these high-growth markets at ATM 2020,
will be the
tourism boards from the UAE’s seven emirates with major exhibits from Dubai,
Abu
Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain as well as a
variety of other UAE exhibitors including Emirates, Emaar Hospitality Group and
Abu Dhabi Airports.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian
Travel Market (ATM), said: "Not only will Expo 2020 increase international
arrivals to the UAE and showcase the country as a major global tourism hub – it
has also provided the country with the opportunity to expand its world-class
hospitality offerings; upgrade its airports and transport infrastructure; and develop
an expansive array or new retail, leisure and entertainment facilities as well
as diversifying its key source markets by reaching out to new and emerging
markets.”
At present, the Middle East and Africa remains the
overall top source market for the UAE, however, there appears to be a changing
dynamic as we look ahead, with the Asia pacific market set to become the
largest source of arrivals in the UAE – witnessing a Compound Annual Growth
Rate (CAGR) of 9.8% until 2024 - driven in large by the populous Indian
subcontinent.
“The introduction
of a new multi-entry five-year tourist visa will not only drive more frequent
travel to the country and longer stays but it will also allow for a whole host
of new airline routes, making the country more accessible to a host of first
time tourists from emerging markets – providing a boost to overall tourist
spend and further stimulating the UAE’s GDP impact,” Curtis added.
As the UAE gears up to welcome
25 million visitors for Expo 2020, the country’s hospitality sector will play a
major role in ensuring the success of the global event, as well as securing a
significant number of travellers who will be keen to return to the emirates for
a visit post-Expo.
According to the latest data from STR, Dubai had more
than 120,000 hotel rooms as of February 2020, with a goal of completing 160,000
hotel rooms by October 2020 to meet the anticipated demand generated by Expo
2020.
Despite average occupancy rates reaching 73% - one of
the highest in the world – during the first nine months of 2019, Dubai Tourism
reported a decline in RevPar from AED 337 in 2018 to AED 295 in 2019, primarily
driven by softening ADR – which dropped from AED 451 in 2018 to AED 400 in 2019
– in response to increased competition from new hotel supply.
As we look ahead to the next 12 months, the outlook
for the hospitality sector in the UAE is positive, with demand in the market
strong – backed by an increasing number of arrivals from key and emerging
markets as a result of Expo 2020 which is now a mere few months away and the
imminent introduction of a new tourist visa.
“And, looking to ATM 2020, with exhibitors from the
UAE occupying more than 45% of overall stand space on the show floor, we look
forward to facilitating business opportunities that will drive the
unprecedented level of development planned for the emirate’s hospitality and
tourism market,” Curtis added.
ATM, considered by industry
professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism
sector, welcomed almost 40,000 people to its 2019 event with representation
from 150 countries. With over 100 exhibitors making their debut, ATM 2019
showcased the largest ever exhibition from Asia.
Adopting Events for Tourism Growth as the
official show theme, ATM 2020 will build on the success of this year’s edition
with a host of seminar sessions discussing the impact events have on tourism
growth in the region while inspiring the travel and hospitality industry about
the next generation of events.
