Strongest-ever Presence for Dubai in ITB-2006

The 2006 edition of International Tourism Exchange (ITB) will be utilized by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in a big way to reach out to the world for tapping further growth avenues for Dubai ’s booming tourism industry.

Dubai Stand (Number 107, Hall 22) will be 15 per cent bigger than last year and will accommodate an all-time record 92 co-participants as against last year’s 76 who shared the 440-square-meter stand. The number of co-participants booths at the stand increased by 13.8 percent compared with the last year.

Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) will share the Dubai Stand reception offering glimpses into the famed Arabian hospitality that brings millions of tourists to Dubai every year. Jumeirah, Dubai-based operator of iconic properties like Burj Al Arab, will occupy 30 square meters of the stand.

Being held at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from March 8 to 12, this will be the 40th edition of the world’s largest travel trade fair and will see Dubai’s 17th successive participation. The event is expected to attract over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries who will share an overall exhibition space of 150,000 square meters.

Germany is one of the key source markets for Dubai with the number of German guests to Dubai hotels increasing by 12 percent last year totaling at 264,298 guests in 2005. The number of German tour operators featuring Dubai in their itinerary in 2005 and 2006 totaled 184, an increase of 19 percent over 2004 and 2005.