Tour operators predict an increase of tourist traffic to UAE in the winter season

According to the Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing of the Government of Dubai (DTCM), in the first six months of this year 405,000 Russian tourists visited Dubai, which is 74% more than in the same period of the last year. This is the most significant growth among incoming markets in Dubai. For comparison, the tourist flow from China grew by only 7%. Such a significant increase of the tourist flow to UAE began from last year, when the visa regime for tourists from Russia was simplified. Later this year, the visa regime between the two countries was canceled. According to the Federal Security Service of Russian Federation, in 2017 the flow of tourists to UAE from Russia increased by 53.7% in comparison with 2016 and amounted up to 784 thousand tourists. Tour operators estimate the growth of sales of tours to UAE in 2017 at the level of 60-80%. Dubai remains the leader of growth on the Russian market. According to DTCM data, last year the flow of tourists from Russia to Dubai amounted 530 thousand people, which is 121% more than the in the previous year. The tourist flow to Abu Dhabi last year (according to the results of 10 months) grew by 75% and amounted 29.5 thousand tourists.