Dubai to Host 15 International and Regional Conventions in 2004

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Monday, May 17, 2004 (Business Wire India) -- Dubai's rapidly-expanding MICE infrastructure, aggressive marketing and promotional initiatives by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) and the unfaltering global interest have resulted in the emirate being chosen for hosting 12 high-profile international conventions and three regional gatherings this year.

On the concluding day of the three-day IMEX-2004 in which Dubai had a 250 square metres stand featuring 53 co-participants and 32 booths, the DCB Manager, Mr. Awadh Al Seghayer, and DTCM Manager Overseas Promotions, Mr. Khalifa Ali Buamaim, said the concerted efforts towards promoting Dubai as an ideal year-round destination for business and leisure have started paying off with up to 15 major conventions coming to Dubai in 2004 alone. Dubai is confident about bagging another eight conventions.

These gatherings are expected to attract between 15,000 and 20,000 high-spending visitors.

The DTCM Director Operations and Marketing, Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, said: “The unceasing interest and confidence posed by the global MICE industry in Dubai reflects our hard work and commitment and the success of the inspirational public-private sector partnership to bring more laurels�. He said Dubai has benefited from its strong participation in the worldwide incentive travel, meeting and events show in Frankfurt for the second consecutive year.

During the three-day run of the influential show, Dubai stand remained the cynosure of all eyes and played a host to a steady stream of trade visitors and hosted-buyers.

Underscoring the importance of participation in IMEX, Mr. Al Seghayer said: “We noticed strong difference in this year's IMEX compared with the last year's edition. In 2003, DCB received mostly enquiries. This year, we confirmed serious business, almost 60 % new.�

He added: “Without doubt IMEX-2004 was a great show for the Dubai Convention Centre. Busy schedules throughout the entire run of the show reflected the strong interest in Dubai as a leading destination for conventions and meetings. Only a little lack of knowledge about the Dubai was experienced from the US market.�

The DTCM delegation to the IMEX-2004 included Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, DTCM Executive Overseas Promotions, and Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Manager Media Relations. The DTCM's Germany Representation Office headed by its Director, Mara Kaselitz, also played its crucial role in ensuring success at the show.

The second edition of IMEX at Messe Frankfurt was 25 per cent bigger then the last year with 2,500 exhibitors representing over 130 countries and 2,750 hosted buyers from 40 world markets. This year's total contracted exhibition space is more than 11,000 square metres.

The show witnessed the participation of 10 new European Union (EU) members. Dubai was among the destinations that have significantly increased their stand size to tap the growing influence of the show as the most preferred meeting venue for the MICE industry.

The Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has had an office in India for the last seven years which has been functioning as an initial contact point and query-processing centre for the Indian travel trade interested in doing business in Dubai.

The India office aims at promoting commerce and tourism, through the organisation of marketing activities such as presentations, roadshows, advertising, brochure distribution, direct sales meetings and media education programmes, which include familiarization visits for business and travel journalists to Dubai.

Owing to its excellence at marketing 'Discover Dubai', DTCM India was recently adjudged the 'Best International Tourism Board in India' by the Indian travel industry at the Galileo Express Travel & Tourism Awards in New Delhi.

The DTCM expects to play an important role in boosting bilateral ties by promoting a widespread awareness of the opportunities Dubai has to offer in both business and tourism.

The presence in Mumbai brings to 13 the total number of offices in the DTCM's international network.