by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:35 AM ET, Mon May 1, 2023
Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism released data from the first quarter of 2023 that suggests the city will become one of the world’s most-visited international destinations.
International overnight visitors saw a 17 percent year-over-year increase this quarter, with 4.67 million visitors spending at least one overnight in Dubai. The growth contributes to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which is to make Dubai one of the top three cities in the world.
Dubai is also one of the fastest recovering destinations globally, reaching 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels during the first quarter of the year. Recovery from the pandemic has been accelerated in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates compared to other destinations.
Travelers from the Middle East and Northern Africa comprised 29 percent of overnight visitors; travelers from Western Europe accounted for 22 percent; and South Asia comprised the third-highest number of overnight visitors, at 16 percent.
Hotel occupancy rates rose to 83 percent during the first quarter of the year, just one percent less than it had been during the same time in 2019, though RevPAR, or revenue per available room, rose 21 percent from 2019.
“Inspired by our visionary leadership, we have made tremendous strides in our efforts to position the city as a must-visit destination through celebrity-led and digital first global campaigns in parallel with initiatives that increase accessibility, minimize barriers to travel, and make it as seamless as possible for travelers to visit Dubai,” said His Excellency, Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
“We express our sincere appreciation for the steadfast support from all our stakeholders and partners who relentlessly strive to uphold our city's position as a top-tier travel destination globally. Their commitment to our shared vision is instrumental in maintaining our city's global reputation and for the steady inflow of international visitors,” continued Kazim. “We will continue to work with them to develop innovative and unique tourism products and experiences that will further amplify the appeal of our city as the top consideration for both first-time and repeat business and leisure travelers. With global travel undergoing a paradigm shift in terms of visitor expectations and experiences, we are making every effort to ensure Dubai performs even better in 2023 and beyond to remain ahead of the curve in a highly competitive global tourism landscape.”
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