Tourist spending in the UAE increased by 70 per cent last year to reach AED 121 billion, which is the highest in the region.
That's according to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who highlighted the strong resurgence of the tourism sector.
During a tour of the Arabian Travel Market, which opened its doors on Monday for the 30th edition, Sheikh Mohammed reiterated the UAE's target of reaching 40 million visitors within seven years, and increasing the sector's contribution to the country's GDP to AED 450 billion.
He added that Dubai will continue to raise excellence in the tourism industry by combining the competencies of local talent and the expertise of international partnerships.
"Our vision is to make Dubai the preferred global destination for business and investment. We seek to build on our exceptional economic achievements to open new horizons of growth," said His Highness.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the importance of the tourism sector as one of the key pillars of Dubai’s economy, and a vital driver of its growth agenda over the next 10 years.
"Consistent with Dubai’s ethos of collaboration, we have established robust cooperation with leading private sector players to ensure the highest global benchmarks of quality. We will continue to create a conducive environment for all stakeholders to contribute to the rapid growth of our tourism industry," he said.
During my visit today to the Arabian Travel Market 2023, which hosts 2,000 tourism entities from 150 countries around the world.
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 1, 2023
Global tourism has rebounded after three years of decline. The UAE’S tourism sector has also made a strong comeback, with tourist spending in 2022… pic.twitter.com/Iynxe8qoCX
.@HHShkMohd: Our vision is to make Dubai the preferred global destination for business and investment. We seek to build on our exceptional economic achievements to open new horizons of growth. pic.twitter.com/hnBI6Ioabf
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 1, 2023
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