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Dubai high on Russians’ itinerary

DUBAI — Russian tourists are among the biggest spenders and they’re attracted in escalating numbers to the UAE’s shores, according to tourism officials in Dubai.

The popularity of Dubai as a destination for Russians has been reinforced and will be boosted with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Alpha Tours hosting the annual Natalie Tours Congress for the third consecutive year.

Natalie Tours, one of the the biggest tour operators in the Russian market and largely responsible for attracting the most number of Russian tourists to the UAE, gathered 220 travel agents for the three-day conference which wrapped up on October 2 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

DTCM Executive Director, Media Relations Division, Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman said more than 422,000 Russians stayed in Dubai hotels during 2006 and there was a 15 per cent increase in the number of Russians using the Dubai International Airport.

Rahman said tourists from the Russian, CIS and Baltic regions were among the most common visitors to Dubai.

The DTCM has participated in a number of Russian tourism exhibitions and the support for the Natalie Tours Congress aimed at attracting more visitors to the region.

Meanwhile, incentives for travel agents to sell more trips to Dubai were high with a competition this year, including the prize of a Dubai apartment.

Natalie Tours Director-General Natalia Vorobieva said tourists generally spent $1500 on a travel package for 10-11 days.

While average spending amounts were difficult to determine, officials agreed Russian tourists generally spend at least 100 per cent more than their room cost on other hotel expenditures.

“Russians are the highest average spending tourist in Dubai,” she claimed. “It’s the Russian mentality. They save through the year and then spend everything during their holiday.”

Vorobieva said Russians consider Dubai a safe destination and one of the best places to visit throughout the year.

Alpha Tours CEO Ghassan Al Aridi said the conference showed not only the DTCM’s commitment to the Russian market but also Natalie Tours’ growing interest in Dubai as a year-round business and leisure destination.

Aridi said the number of Russian tourists who visited Dubai through Natalie Tours increased from 32,000 in 2005 to 45,000 in 2006.

By 2010 the number is predicted to touch 100,000 representing 30 per cent of the total Russian tourists coming to UAE.

In their quest to promote Dubai in the Russian market, DTCM Deputy Director Missions Abdulla bin Suwaidan gave a presentation on the sidelines of the congress unveiling new projects in Dubai.

The presentation highlighted the various upcoming projects of Dubai, including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai, Atlantis, The Palm Hotel, Dubailand, Universal City, Dubai World Central International Airport and many more new projects.

The Congress will allow the delegates to explore Dubai’s strengths and attractions and experience first-hand all its world-class facilities.