Dubai’s 2022 tourist numbers surpass...

‘Stay More, Pay Less’ summer hotel discounts and the launch of the Michelin Guide are expected to further boost tourism

Dubai’s tourism sector continues to recover with the city welcoming 6.17 million international overnight visitors from January to May in 2022.

The figures represent a 197% year-on-year increase from the same five-month period in 2021, which saw the city attracting just over two million international travellers.

The latest tourism data was revealed by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) at its first ‘City Briefing’ for 2022, a bi-annual event that provides an in-depth industry outlook to stakeholders and partners.

Attended by more than 1,200 key executives, the first of two city briefings that will take place this year provided a platform for discussion on future strategies to further reinforce the city’s position as a global hub for business, investment, talent and tourism.

Commenting on the findings, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) director general Helal Saeed Almarri said, “The remarkable vision and leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have always been an inspiration to us all and this is reflected in the city’s continued success, as we focus on enhancing its position as a global hub for economy and tourism.”

Almarri also credited “the massive momentum generated by a successful Expo 2020” for driving growth across all tourism pillars, from cultural to culinary experiences, as his team work towards achieving the ambitious goal of making Dubai the world’s most visited destination.

The figures from DET show that overall, Dubai hotels maintained an average occupancy level of 76% from January to May 2022 compared to 62% during the corresponding period in 2021.

According to data from hotel management analytics firm STR, Dubai topped global rankings in terms of hotel occupancy, ahead of other international destinations, including New York (61%), London (60%) and Paris (57%) during January to April 2022.

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Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) CEO Issam Kazim opened proceedings by providing visitor and marketing insights, in addition to an update on the activities that are underway to encourage more travellers to visit Dubai during summer. Incentives include the ‘Stay More, Pay Less’ campaign, a citywide initiative supported by more than 60 hotels and resorts, providing guests with discounted offers.

Kazzim said: “Dubai’s positive performance is also testament to the city’s resilience and the success of our recovery strategy. As we strive to leverage a robust domestic market and the growing international visitation, we are confident that the summer season will serve as an ideal launchpad to further accelerate the industry.”

The event also highlighted the drive to position Dubai as a global gastronomy hub which recently received a significant boost with the launch of Michelin Guide Dubai.

For more information, visit www.dubaitourism.gov.ae