Big Increase in Dubai Familiarization Missions
DUBAI, UAE, May 3, 2007. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) hosted a record number of 197 missions in the first three months of 2007, offering Dubai familiarization tours to 2141 tour operators, media professionals, investors, sportsmen and government officials from 36 countries.
The DTCM Director Missions, Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, said the 30 per cent growth in missions compared with the corresponding period reflects the unfaltering interest in Dubai in almost every sphere of life, especially travel and tourism industry and media. In the first quarter of 2006, the department brought a total of 1603 people under 152 missions.
He said: "The main purpose of hosting missions is to familiarize the world with the massive transformation that Dubai has undergone and the status of different projects underway. These familiarization tours are helping raise the global profile of Dubai and also attract investments and businesses in different economic sectors."
He said hosting of an increasing number missions forms part of the strategy to promote and market Dubai as an ideal year-round business and leisure destination in different parts of the world.
In the first quarter of this year, the Media accounted for 105 missions, the highest among the seven categories. From the overseas markets, the highest number of participants under the programme originated from Germany - 271- followed by the Japan with 184, Japan 178, China 161, USA 87, UK 48, Singapore 59, Korea 75 and France 52.
The DTCM also hosts missions during important occasions like the Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises, Dubai World Cup, Dubai Desert Classic and the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
For the ATM-2007, the department has brought 120 hosted buyers from 15 countries for the Dubai Stand co-participants.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
