Dubai expects 14m tourists in 2015, 15m in 2016

The emirate of Dubai is expecting 14 million tourists by the end of the current year and 15m in 2016, according to Marc Bennett, senior vice-president, International Operations of the Dubai Corporation of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Bennett’s remarks came during the 11th Natalie Tours Congress, which was designed to discuss the Russian tourism market, considered to be one of the main senders of tourists to Dubai.

Bennett spoke about indications that the Russian tourist market was recovering following a slowdown triggered by the decline of the value of the ruble.

He said this was not the first time the Russian tourist market has gone through tough conditions but it will make a strong a rebound in the coming period.

In remarks published by Al-Ittihad, the official said the Russian tourists who used to make up a large proportion of Dubai’s visitors will start to come back to the emirate in the next few months.

The number of Russian tourists started to decline by 40 per cent during the second half of last year and continued through the first half of this year, but their average stay remained at ten days, according to Bennett.

He reveals that the Dubai Corporation of Tourism and Commerce Marketing will launch major promotional campaigns across Russian cities via a variety of advertising platforms during October and November this year.

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