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DSF 2010 to Surpass Impressive 2009 Results

The organiser, formerly known as the Dubai Shopping Festival Office, said that DSF 2009 recorded 3.35 million visitors who spent approximately Dh9.8 billion. DEPE said in a statement that despite a global crunch on consumer spending due to the financial crisis the 2009 data shows a 4.6 per cent increase in visitor numbers and just a 2 per cent decrease in spending as compared to DSF 2008.

“It just goes to prove the unshakable popularity of DSF, and that Dubai will always be an attractive shopping and tourism destination for tourists,” said Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Dubai Shopping Festival 
Supreme Committee.

He said that the results of DSF 2009 were notably consistent, considering the volatile global economic climate prevalent across the world at the time of the festival. “We can attribute these impressive results to the solid collaboration between the public and private sectors in Dubai towards ensuring the success of the event, a key factor that has always been pivotal in the success story of DSF along the years, in addition to the state-of-the-art infrastructure that Dubai offers, making it much easier to organize an event of such magnitude in the cosmopolitan city, and it is what we optimistically rely on when planning for the future editions of this unique event. The results of DSF 2009 are testimony that DSF can motivate the retail and tourism sectors in Dubai 
against all odds.”

“On behalf of all the sponsors and government entities that supported the event along the past fourteen years, I would like to congratulate HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the occasion of reaching a DSF milestone through its 15^th Edition, and on its remarkable accomplishments that were achieved in the past fourteen editions, which helped position the city of Dubai on the global tourism map.”

Laila Suhail, CEO of DEPE said that the visitor numbers and expenditure, though important indicators, are not to be considered a key measurement of success for the event, rather an indicator of its development year on year, and that new indicators that focuses on customer satisfaction and quality will be used and implemented in future editions. “Apart from being a milestone, DSF 2010 will be very much visible to residents and visitors this time as we are back on the streets with a host of festivities. Areas like Al Seef, Dhiyafah, and Rigga will be themed to enhance the festive atmosphere created by DSF,” Suhail said.

business@khaleejtimes.com