As things for the travel and tourism industry in Dubai continue to improve following the opening of the borders at the beginning of July, an official has said he expects tourist numbers to go back up to return to “peak 2019” numbers by November of this year.
In a recent interview with , Brigadier Talal Ahmad Al Shanqiti, general director assistant of Ports Affairs in GDRFA-Dubai, outlined the positive shift the emirate has seen since the borders opened just over a month ago.
“Every day we have more than 20,000 travellers through the airport,” he told the outlet, adding that most travellers are tourists in addition to some residents who are travelling out of the country.
“We expect by November, the peak numbers will be similar to those of 2019,” he added.
Ahmad Al Shanqiti also highlighted that the guidelines and measures implemented in Dubai under the leadership HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have made tourists “trust the safety measures in the country”.
Last week, the Director-General of Dubai Tourism, Helal Saeed Almarri, said that since the reopening of the borders they have “been greatly encouraged by the market’s response in the second phase of our recovery strategy”.
“People are much more optimistic and well-informed now and are ready to go on holidays to destinations that are safe and have put in place strong health and safety protocols,” he added.
With Emirates now flying to over 70 destinations and flydubai covering 66 desintations this summer, bookings for both local airlines are reportedly increasing.
All in all, travel and tourism in the region is on the up.
