Dubai Tourism News
Cape Town poised to berth QE2 floating hotel
South Africa has confirmed it is considering a proposal from Dubai to permanently berth the Queen Elizabeth 2 liner at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, and convert it into a luxury floating hotel.
Dubai gears up metro launch
Dubai is gearing up for the opening of its long-awaited metro system in September.
Tourism is booming, say Dubai officials
Government officials are dismissing talks of “Dubai Doom” by saying tourism in the emirate is performing well despite the global financial crisis.Dubai registered average occupancy rates of 81 percent in the first quarter of 2009, Khalid bin Sulayem, Director-General, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) told a meeting of Dubai Economic Council this week.
Monarch Dubai to auction rooms and spa treatments
Dubai’s luxury Monarch hotel is launching an online auction of rooms, meals and spa treatments as a novel way of attracting guests.The Monarch Dubai, with its prime location at 1 Sheikh Zayed Road, plans to launch the “name your price for luxury” auction next month, as a tool for combatting the slump in Dubai’s hospitality sector.
Udo Fischer, Country Manager Germany, Etihad Airways @ ITB 2009
Etihad Airway’s Udo Fisher (Country Manager - Germany) talks to Breaking Travel News at ITB 2009.
Dubai stokes tourism with global campaign
Dubai is embarking on a £10 million global campaign in an attempt to boost its tourism economy.“Keep Discovering Dubai” aims to promote Dubai’s tourism facilities internationally and includes over 2,000 travel agents and tour operators being invited to visit the emirate over the next two months for three-day familiarisation trips to showcase the region’s accessibility, infrastructure and hospitality.
Dubai sells US$10bn bonds to cut debt
Dubai’s finance department has sold $10bn (£6.9bn) in bonds to the United Arab Emirates, to ease its liquidity problems.It will use the money to pay off its multi-billion dollar debt accumulated as a result of the emirate embarking on the biggest expansion project in history.
Dubai to ease congestion with water taxis
Dubai is introducing a fleet of water taxis to help alleviate the congestion problems and lack of public transport.The first of ten catamaran-based vessels will be powered by Rolls Royce waterjets, and serve as a modern version of the traditional abra water taxi.Trials are scheduled to start in August 2009. Deliveries are due to be completed by early 2010 and, if the water taxis prove successful, there is significant potential for future orders from the RTA.
Werner Pichler, The Monarch Dubai @ WTM 2008
Werner Pichler, The Monarch Dubai at WTM 2008
World’s tallest building gets even taller
The world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai, is going to be even taller than originally planned, developer Emaar Properties has announced.
Dubai looks to dominate spa market
Dubai is set to become the number one spa destination in the world by the year 2010 as global trends see more visitors seeking healthy holidays for rest and relaxation.
ABC Namebank on rise Middle East brands, AHIC 08 @ AHIC 2008
Breaking Travel News interviews Naseem. Javed, Founder, ABC Namebank at Arabian Travel Investment Conference 2008, Dubai.