Tourism

Dubai: Rooms to grow

Dubai's hospitality industry is looking to a period of sustained growth, with a raft of new hotels set to open in the next few years, and foreign arrival numbers tipped to rise. However, while enjoying buoyant times, the emirate's hotel sector still has some issues to deal with and concerns to ponder.

With as many as 10 million foreign tourists expected to visit Dubai in 2010, there has been a surge in new hotel construction. Based on approved or planned projects, the number of hotel rooms in the emirate is projected to rise from 51,168 in 2007 to 64,179 by 2010.

UAE tourism sector woos AED3.2trn revenue in 12 years

The UAE was ranked second in a report forecasting revenues accrued from the hotel sector in the Middle East over the next 12 years, estimated to turn up US$879 billion (AED3.2 trillion).

Fast Future Foundation’s report puts Turkey in first place at AED4.2 trillion and Saudi Arabia in third place at AED2.6 trillion. The hotel sector earns a yearly income of AED250.2 billion in Oman, and AED161.9 billion in Yemen. Bahrain came in last around US$22 billion (AED80.9 billion) according to the report.

Egypt: Pushing for better tourism

Egypt is overhauling its tourism industry in a bid to bring more foreign and domestic investment to the sector.

A draft bill amendment, approved by the Egyptian parliament in June 2008, will change aspects of law 38, 1977, which regulates tourism companies. The changes include allowing foreign tourism companies to operate in the country as long as they have a minimum capital amount of E£3 million (US$560,000). The amendment also raises the minimum capital requirement to establish a tourism operator from E£100,000 (US$18,700) to E£2 million (US$373,700).

Dubai highlighted as film-making hub at Cannes

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) concluded its participation at the 61st Cannes Film Festival with a series of successful events and networking opportunities that brought together global film personalities and industry representatives interested in doing business in the region and promoting Dubai's emerging movie talent. The DIFF and Dubai Studio City had a dedicated pavilion at the International Village of the Cannes Film Festival.

The pavilion aimed to establish the UAE as a regional film-making hub and attract the global industry players to the UAE as a one-stop destination for all their filmmaking needs.

Government spends E£1.2bn on development of Luxor

Development of Luxor as a tourist destination has cost around E£1.2 billion with the main contributions from the Ministries of Tourism and International Cooperation, according to the City Council's chief Samir Farag.

The Egyptian cabinet recently discussed measures to abolish government administrative buildings in parts of the historical city in order to build eighteen hotels to meet growing demand from tourists.

GCC countries to pump AED1.4 trillion in tourism infrastructure

The investment in tourism infrastructure has significantly increased in Abu Dhabi this year to cater to the growing needs of the rapid expanding tourism sector, a visionary strategy that is accompanied by a keen move to adopt the best practices with the ambition to boost the competitiveness of the tourism profile in the UAE’s capital city.

As the real estate investment, fair and exhibition activities are adding increasing momentum to the tourist influx, the tourism authority in the UAE largest emirate is targeting 2.7 million by 2012.

Dubai to get Indian entertainment hub

Dubai Infinity Holdings announced a multi million dollar joint venture with Yash Raj Films, a prominent entertainment brand in India, to build an entertainment district in Dubai.

The Indian entertainment brand is behind the success of blockbusters such as Veer Zaara, Hum Tum, Bunty Aur Babli, Chak De India and classics such as Kabhi Kabhi and Silsila. The Yashraj Films Entertainment District will comprise theme park attractions, a movie palace, hotel concepts and many other unique Indian genre entertainment concepts.

Jumeirah to manage resort in Argentina

Jumeirah Group, a member of Dubai Holding, has been appointed to manage a luxury lifestyle resort dedicated to polo and equestrian sports, located in Argentina. The Jumeirah Culu Culu Polo Lifestyle Resort will be located in Lobos, a 30-minute ride from Argentina's Ezeiza International Airport and just one hour from the capital of Buenos Aires.