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Tourists' preferences reflect Dubai's rapidly growing popularity as international destination
50% of tourists spend 1 week in Dubai
Over 70% of international tourists keen on staying longer in Dubai
Dubai, UAE, May 31, 2017:
Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain have been rated by international tourists as their favourite attractions in the UAE, according to the latest Arabian Falcon Holidays survey participated by 1,212 respondents.
More than 70 per cent of international tourists said they were keen to stay longer in Dubai and explore more. This clearly reflects Dubai’s fast growing popularity as an international tourist destination. The desire to stay longer is over and above the one to two weeks' vacation they already booked in Dubai based on the AFH survey which included only non-residents.
Dubai’s shopping malls, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, The Palm, and Dubai restaurants are the next favourites amongst the surveyed international tourists.
Al Mohannad Sharafuddin, Founder of Arabian Falcon Holidays (AFH), the largest independent timeshare player in the Middle East, said: “The strong vision of Dubai's leadership has led the emirate to outpace global growth in tourism. Increased investments toward attracting tourists to Dubai, focus on ensuring happiness for all, alongwith 100 per cent customer satisfaction through initiatives such as the launch of Smart Happiness Index, make Dubai a highly attractive destination that offers an unmatchable experience to international tourists.”
“Speedy and comfortable procedures, starting right at the time you enter the airports, a friendly and efficient customer service in addition to a large number of unique destinations offering attractions for all age groups and interests, make Dubai the place of choice for families and businesses alike,” Sharafuddin added.
The growth in tourism has been particularly remarkable after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE's Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, approved the Dubai Vision 2020 for the tourism sector. This lays a strategic roadmap with the goal of attracting 20 million tourists (doubling the number welcomed in 2012) and AED 300 billion in tourism revenues annually by 2020.
To achieve this, Dubai will focus on three key areas: positioning the emirate as a leading family, event and business destination.
The preferences of international tourists, as revealed by the AFH survey, showed that family destinations top the list of favourites.
Dubai Garden Glow, Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah Mosque, Desert Safari, Burj Al Arab, Waterparks, Dubai Parks and Resorts and Global Village are also amongst the hot favourites for international tourists.
The AFH survey also brought out the emerging trend of preference for longer stays amongst tourists. Nearly 50 per cent of the tourists spent four to seven days in Dubai, while 23 per cent stayed up to two weeks and 8.5 per cent of international tourists stayed longer than two weeks in the emirate, according to the survey.
"With a clear vision and a strategic roadmap that focuses on various aspects to attract tourism, Dubai is setting exemplary standards in tourism. Through its numerous achievements Dubai has brought many dreams to reality, and at this pace of growth, we eagerly wait to see its further accomplishments by 2020," Sharafuddin concluded.
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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; Golden Palm Tree, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Elysium Vacation Club, Istanbul, Turkey.
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 AFH Founder, 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.
About RCI
RCI is the world leader in providing holiday exchange services, giving its members the freedom to explore more than 100 countries, staying in some 4,300 carefully selected resorts affiliated to its vacation exchange programme. RCI pioneered the concept of holiday exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility with their holiday home ownership experience. Today, RCI provides flexible holiday options to its 3.8 million members each year. As part of the Wyndham Worldwide Group of companies, the world’s largest hospitality group, RCI members also enjoy access to – and exclusive member value deals – on a selection of the more than 112,000 properties available in the wider Wyndham hotel and resort portfolio.
For inquiries please contact:
Christopher T. Banzuela
New Perspective Media
christopher@newperspectivemedia.com
+971 4 2940755, +971 55 353 3775
© Press Release 2017
