The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced its participation in the 30th edition of the World Travel Market (WTM) taking place in London from November 9 to 12.

This year will mark DTCM’s 20th consecutive year participation in the world’s largest business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry.

Over 50,000 travel industry professionals, government officials and ministers and international media representatives attend the event at ExCeL London to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends.

Dubai Stand will help attract and explore new business opportunities from the UK and Europe, which has remained the largest source market for Dubai’s booming tourism industry since 2002.

The DTCM organised a pre-fair meeting for its co-participants at the Dubai Marine Resort and Spa on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, to brief them about its various initiatives at the WTM.

Mr. Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, DTCM Director Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, and Mr. Abdullah bin Suwaidan, Deputy Director Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions, addressed the gathering.

Mr. Saleh Al Geziry said Dubai Stand will have 77 co-participants representing hotels, hotel apartments and tour operators. The co-participants include Dubai Police, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department. Dubai Stand will measure 616.84 square metres.

Speaking about various DTCM initiatives at the WTM, he said Definitely Dubai will be launched as the official tourism brand for DTCM’s promotion of Dubai. Under the umbrella of DTCM, Definitely Dubai will provide many marketing opportunities and tools for the tourism professional engaged in the promotion of Dubai.

A replica of Dubai Stand was also unveiled at the meeting.

The UK and Ireland together remains the largest source market for Dubai tourism industry with 854,601 visitors in 2008, an increase of 14 per cent over the previous year.

In the first half of 2009, 383,197 visitors from UK and Ireland stayed in Dubai hotel establishments.

The number of UK passengers using Dubai Airport in 2008 was 3.55 million, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year.

There was four per cent increase in the number of tour operators featuring Dubai in the UK market, while the number of British companies in Dubai recorded a six per cent increase in 2008.

There was 77 per cent increase in the Dubai trade value with the UK in 2008.