LONDON--Analysis presented by Deloitte to hospitality leaders in the Middle East this week reports that despite tourist arrival and hotel performance growth to September, tourism volume in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will slow due to the current economic conditions facing the important European outbound market.(Dubai skyline, top left photo)
The analysis was shared during the Deloitte Global Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure industry meeting and lunch, the first to be held in the Middle East.
The analysis was shared during the Deloitte Global Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure industry meeting and lunch, the first to be held in the Middle East.
Europeans have seen a decline in the value of their investments and real estate. Combined with the unfavourable exchange rates between European currencies and the dirham, which has increased the cost of visiting the emirates by at least 25%, the UAE faces a challenging time in maintaining the growth enjoyed over the past three years. 
Commenting, Alex Kyriakidis, (middle right photo) Global Managing Partner of Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure at Deloitte said:
“The long-term development vision of the UAE must continue and current conditions should not cause panic. No one is immune from the global economic crisis.
" The key is in broadening the UAE tourism offering to meet the needs of 
today’s tourists." There will be increased emphasis on value for money and the UAE will be competing for the European visitors – who account for over 40% of tourists – with Egypt,
"Turkey and the Far East as destinations which have not been affected by the strengthening of the dollar. The mid and limited service market is currently an underdeveloped sector in the UAE’s hotel supply and should be addressed promptly. Hoteliers should also look to different sales channels such as tour operators to broaden the distribution base.”
He added: “Another w
ay of introducing more tourists to the emirates is to continue developing a diverse range of attractions such as theme parks, cultural attractions, museums and nature reserves to widen the appeal to different types of tourists such as families.”
ay of introducing more tourists to the emirates is to continue developing a diverse range of attractions such as theme parks, cultural attractions, museums and nature reserves to widen the appeal to different types of tourists such as families.” (Abu Dhabi skyline, bottom left photo)
Commenting, Rob O’Hanlon, Tourism, Hotel and Leisure partner at Deloitte Middle East said: “Hotel performance remains very strong in Abu Dhabi with revenue per available room (revPAR) up 45% while Dubai’s revPAR grew 6.7% year-to-October 2008 according to STR Global.
To ensure that hotel performance remains solid, an increased marketing effort for the UAE as a whole is important.
"The other part of the puzzle is to align this strategy with the route expansion plans of Emirates and Etihad airlines, key drivers of the UAE’s tourism traffic.”
CONTACT: Sian Mannakee, Deloitte UK Public Relations, Phone: +44 20 7303 7883
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