Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing had a successful participation at the International Tourism Fair ITB-2013 in Berlin, which concluded its works on Sunday (10 March 2013). Some 123 participants from the tourism sector in Dubai took part in the fair alongside the general directorate of residency and foreigners affairs-Dubai, Expo2020, and Dubai Events and promotions Establishment (DEPE).

DTCM was represented in this event via a big delegation that included Media Relations, Business Development, cruise and MICE business, sports and event management companies; and government entities such as Dubai Convention and Events Bureau (DCEB), Dubai Cruise Terminal.

Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, the Director of Overseas promotions and Inward Mission, commended DTCM’s team and its efforts exerted to achieve one of the most successful participations by DTCM abroad.

Moza Al Youha, DTCM’s director of media and advertising, said she held several meetings with German and international representatives of various advertising and media companies, to discuss promoting Dubai via electronic, print and televised adverts, and compare notes on the various advertising methods done by touristic destinations.

Abdullah bin Suwaidan, Deputy Director of Inward Missions, said that in 2012, DTCM hosted 245 touristic and media delegations that had 2,919 delegated from various nationalities, compared to 219 delegations in 2011 of 2,550 delegates.
He added that DTCM’s participation at ITB-2013 was successful at all levels, and the participants were satisfied with the results. Whereas Asmaa mohammed, Head of Region East & West Europe – Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, commented that DTCM’s 123 delegates held over 3000 meetings with their German and international counterparts to sign/renew agreements.

She revealed that Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment held several meetings to promote the upcoming events in Dubai this year, adding that Dubai received 7 awards during the fair, which are:

Best promotional film award, best representative office in Germany Award, best tourism destination in the region, and one of 10 best exhibitors at the fair award, in addition to listing 3 of Dubai’s hotels, Atlantis, Sarai Zaabel, and Gloria, among the world’s top 100 hotels.

Tyler Stellman, Head of Sport Tourism Development, said the sector saw a large interest during its participation with DTCM. He added that he had met with the Premium Events Agency to bring the world’s most renowned athletes to Dubai. As well, he met with EuroSport Agency to discuss mutual cooperation to promote sports tourism in Dubai. Mr. Stellman also revealed that an agreement was made with several German tourism companies to develop tourism related to golf, during the coming year.

Suresh Babu, Senior Executive at DTCM’s Cruise Tourism department met with representatives of the top tourism companies specialized in cruise tourism to further develop relations with those companies and increase the number of cruise tourists coming to Dubai.