Arabian Falcon Holidays successfully participates in DTCM's Nigeria roadshow
49% of timeshare owners in Dubai are Africans, says AFH Chairman
Timeshare market to contribute over Dh 14 billion to Dubai's economy by 2020
Dubai, UAE, May 30, 2016: Arabian Falcon Holidays (AFH), the largest independent timeshare player in the Middle East, has concluded a successful participation in the Nigeria roadshow organised by Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). This is in line with AFH's thrust to partner with the government in promoting Dubai as a leisure destination among African tourists.
Africa represented 5% of the total inbound tourism source markets of Dubai in 2015 and the potential to develop this segment appears lucrative. With 201,000 Nigerian visitors last year, Dubai continues to focus on this country as one of the key markets in Africa.
Mohannad Sharafuddin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AFH, said: "The DTCM's roadshow in Nigeria was an opportune strategy to promote and position Dubai as the world's premier tourist destination. It also provided the platform to highlight timeshare as an ideal choice that caters the accommodation requirements of Nigerian family holidaymakers. We are overwhelmed with the response we received in Nigeria since it is an extremely important market for us."
The timeshare industry contributes greatly to tourism receipts as it encourages repeat visitors and tourist spending. In 2015, the total sales of AFH alone stood at USD 24 million (AED 88 million).
According to the latest AFH Economic report, the timeshare market in Dubai is expected to witness exponential growth and will contribute more than USD 3.81 billion (AED 14 billion) to its economy, driven by an expected 25 million visitors, by 2020.
A study conducted by Ernst and Young for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), a trade body representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries, shows that the US timeshare industry contributed an estimated USD 68.7 billion in consumer and business spending to the national economy in 2013.
"Forty-nine per cent of AFH timeshare owners in Dubai hail from Africa. Nigerians are the majority, comprising 73 per cent of African timeshare owners, followed by nationals of Angola and Ghana," he mentioned.
The roadshow, held recently, covered major Nigerian cities including Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.
"These areas are the major cities of Nigerian outbound travellers who are the target market for timeshare," Sharafuddin added.
Stella Obinwa, Regional Director International Operations - Africa of DTCM, said: "This roadshow allowed Dubai-based companies to directly interact with travel operators and travel agencies in Nigeria, pursue new contracts, and develop stronger business ties that will yield mutually beneficial and strategic partnerships. We believe this activity is instrumental in establishing Dubai as the preferred destination of holidaymakers from Nigeria."
Sharafuddin concluded, "We look forward to being part of DTCM's future roadshows. We have noticed that such events backed by government institutions generate trust and confidence among the participants and attendees. This kind of initiative shall pave the way to attract more tourists and to accomplish the vision of Dubai to attract 20 million tourists per year by 2020."
-Ends-
About Arabian Falcon Holidays
Arabian Falcon Holidays (AFH), the largest independent timeshare sales and marketing company in the Middle East, was founded in 1999 when the potential of the UAE, Dubai in particular, as a market for vacation ownership was recognised.
Arabian Falcon is a premier international service provider to the timeshare industry in the Middle East and has been delivering excellent client services and providing the best vacation products in the GCC market since 2003.
AFH has timeshare properties in Royal Club Bonnington Hotel, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai; Royal Club at The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; Serenity in Les Jardins de Zyriab, Marrakech, Morocco; Palace of the Golden Horses, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Golden Palm Tree, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The company is licensed to market and sell timeshare in the UAE and has deposited the required AED 1 million bank guarantee with the Department of Economic Development, Dubai. Arabian Falcon Holidays is an active member of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Membership No. 53170.
At the Vacation Ownership Investment Conference (VOIC) 2007, Arabian Falcon Holidays was honoured to receive the Interval International Pioneer's Excellence Award, which was presented to CEO Al Mohannad Sharafuddin by Interval International Chairman and CEO Mr. Craig M. Nash. The award was given "for visionary foresight and recognition of the timeshare potential of Dubai, and for pioneering the marketing and selling of the city's first timeshare resort."
About Royal Club Dubai
The Royal Club Dubai is a luxury brand of vacation ownership resorts based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Royal Club's resorts are owned by two sister companies, Caryatid Properties Ltd and Dermarr Properties Ltd. Dermarr Real Estate Brokers LLC, a company based in Dubai, is the authorised representative for all of these resorts and any future resorts created under the Royal Club brand. In 2010, we also opened a satellite office in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria called Dermarr Properties Nigeria Ltd.
At the Royal Club, we believe in delivering the best, therefore we appoint only the best companies to look after you and your investment.
About Interval International
Interval International is a world renowned exchange company with over 2,500 resorts worldwide. We have appointed Interval International as we feel that their resorts are of similar quality to ours, all offering 5 star standards so that the clients can enjoy them.
For inquiries, please contact:
Ana Margarita Espineli
New Perspective Media
anamargarita@newperspectivemedia.com
+971 4 2940755, +971 56 7634292
© Press Release 2016
