(TAN): Dubai welcomed 7.28 million international overnight visitors between January and December 2021, representing 32% YoY growth, establishing a momentous marker in the global tourism recovery, and setting the city firmly on course to achieve sustainable growth on its way to becoming the world’s most visited destination.
According to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), international visitation to the city surpassed 3.4 million visitors in Q4 2021, achieving 74% of the total pre-pandemic tourist arrivals of Q4 2019, and paving the way for hotels in Dubai to deliver a fourth quarter performance that surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
A positive trend which is expected to continue throughout 2022 and beyond, the 2021 visitation figures underline the resilience and resurgence of the city’s travel and tourism sector and reaffirm the role of tourism as a key driver of economic growth, while further validating Dubai’s recent selection as the world’s most popular destination in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2022.
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Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “Our ability and agility in achieving a remarkable turnaround amid continuing global challenges has cemented Dubai’s position as the destination of choice for international travellers. The outstanding performance also advances our journey towards becoming the most visited destination and the world’s best city to live and work in. In leading the global tourism recovery with the support of our stakeholders and partners, Dubai constantly set precedents, demonstrating how to safely yet effectively open up to international visitors and, critically, stay open. Dubai’s well-coordinated, consistent, proactive and creative approach enabled it to lay the groundwork for an accelerated recovery that received a major boost with the opening of Expo 2020 and the UAE Golden Jubilee celebrations.”
