Dubai unveiled a Plan of 15 million Tourists per year by 2015

The recent unveiling of a plethora of exciting new developments means that Dubai is well on track to achieve tourism targets of 15 million tourists per year by 2015.

Shows such as the recent Arabian Travel Market 2008, which opened to record crowds, provide the emirate with a platform to demonstrate its position as a leading destination for tourism by unveiling a series of awe-inspiring and pioneering new developments. Dubai is successfully diversifying its economy, and considerably increasing investment in infrastructure across a range of sectors pinpointed as crucial drivers in attracting visitors to the emirate.

Ian Scott, director of the UK and Ireland representative office of Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing, comments on the recent unveilings: “Dubai is a destination where you can expect the best, known for its ground-breaking projects the emirate continues to expand its globally acclaimed leisure and business facilities of superlative quality”.

Amongst these inspiring new developments are a number of high-profile and exciting hotel projects. In 2007 there were 452 hotels and apartments in the emirate, and this figure is set to further grow as new developments continue to fuel visitor demand. In tandem with this, room numbers are predicted to swell from 50,306 in 2007 to 63,317 by 2010. This massive growth is reflected in the emirate’s hotel annual occupancy levels which are among the highest in the world, at 84.4 per cent in 2007 and on course to dramatically increase in 2008.

Dubai is aiming to become the world’s leading family destination for the UK and Irish markets by the year 2012, with many new family-orientated projects in the pipeline. Dubailand, which will house 24 theme parks, will be one of the world’s largest leisure attractions covering three billion square feet and twice the size of Walt Disney World Florida. Dubailand’s attractions will include Legoland, opening 2011, The Restless Planet, a dinosaur theme park opening late 2008 and Dubai Sports City featuring large state of the art stadia and sports facilities, the first stage of which is already complete. The Dubailand development will also feature Universal Studios’ Universal City, as well as Six Flags and Marvel Entertainment theme parks.