Travel Industry, News and Analytics

Dubai Reaches a 1 Year Milestone Since It Has Reopened to Foreign Guests

This month, Dubai marks an important date – it has been one year since the emirate reopened its borders for international travelers on July 7, 2020. The pandemic messed the plans of many countries around the world. What year was it for the emirate’s hospitality industry? Did hotels in Dubai get any guests or manage to become profitable? The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (or simply Dubai Tourism) published a report that casts some light upon the visitor statistics.

According to the report, more than 3.7 million overnight travelers arrived in Dubai during the period from July 2020 to May 2021. This once again proves an important role of Dubai in global tourism. More than 1.7 million visitors out of 3.7 million arrived between July and December 2020, and the remaining 2 million guests visited the city during the first five months of 2021. This proves that tourism rebounds despite the troubles caused by the pandemic. The diversity of source markets is another reason for such a high number of guests during the COVID-19 era. This is a fundamental strength of Dubai. Many destinations that rely primarily on visitors from certain countries faced a drastic decline in the number of tourists.

Despite a decent number of guests, Dubai has remained one of the safest destinations in the world because of its precautionary regime. The city hasn’t dropped its plans to host Expo 2020 and expects to use its high safety standards to ensure security and an enjoyable experience for all guests.

Of course, travel restrictions made it much harder for Dubai hotels to maintain their occupancy levels. India and the UK remained the top source markets for Dubai, followed by Russia, Pakistan, and Egypt. The city also recorded a growing number of guests from certain CIS countries like Ukraine and Kazakhstan, as well as from some East African countries like Sudan and Ethiopia. All these countries have been in the top 15 source markets for the emirate since its reopening in July 2020.

With added domestic demand from Emiratis and expatriates, the occupancy of hotels in Dubai grew from 35% in July 2020 to 58% in May 2021. The occupancy was the highest in December 2020 (69%), followed by strong January 2021 with hotel occupancy of 66%. This made Dubai hotels the second most occupied globally after Singapore and ahead of such prominent tourist destinations as Paris and London.

Individual City Guides

Corinth travel guide

The Isthmus of Corinth is a narrow land bridge that connects mainland Greece with the Peloponnese Peninsula. The city with the same name, Corinth, is situated not far from the isthmus. This is the third-largest city on the peninsula. Corinth is divided into two parts, one of which is modern and the other one is ancient. The majority of industrial sites are concentrated in the new part of the city. Tourists from all over the world visit this settlement to learn more about its ancient history and … Read further

Cuisine of Disneyland Paris

Paris Disneyland is famous not only for its unforgettable and inimitable attractions and colorful shows but also gorgeous restaurants. Many dining establishments have a separated menu for children. There are many restaurants and cafes in the theme park, so everyone will easily find a suitable one. Sweet tooths will not need to waste their time finding a suitable place to eat as there are charming cafes with spacious terraces virtually everywhere. The most popular restaurants are located in Main … Read further

Traditions and festivals in Cadiz

Cadiz is an attractive city for tourists not only because of its gorgeous landmarks and rich history but also thanks to numerous festivals that are regular here. Local people are friendly and it is easy to communicate with them, and this is one more advantage of this resort. It is an important factor that can drastically change tourists’ opinion on their holidays. Locals are friendly, kind, and smile a lot. They are cheerful and “sunny” people. However, they couldn’t be any different … Read further

Ventspils cultural sights

While walking in the city, it is easy to see many interesting architectural and natural landmarks, beautiful monuments and fountains, and visit interesting museums and galleries. One of the most famous landmarks of the region is located on a bank of the Venta River. It is Ventspils Castle that once belonged to the Livonian Order. The gorgeous building was finished more than eight centuries ago. The castle is the oldest building in the city. Actually, the city of Ventspils was formed around the … Read further

Grenadines attractions and entertainment

Active volcano La Soufrière (1234m high) – which is currently not – can be justly called one of the most fascinating sights of the island. It’s located in the north part of Saint Vincent. You can get to the foot of the volcano through the ancient centre of the sugar industry in Georgetown and the active banana plantation in Orange Hill. By the way, Orange Hill is a pretty interesting place. You can see there how this extraordinary herb grows and, what is more, you can learn something new … Read further

Almaty for families and kids

Travelers with children in Almaty are especially popular with the Central Park of Culture and Leisure. It is in demand not only among tourists, but also among locals. This park is perfect for relaxing as well as for active entertainment. On its territory, there are various sports grounds and playgrounds for the youngest. On the territory of the vast park, there is also an excellent zoo where you can see animals brought from different parts of the world. During the summer period, interesting … Read further

Shopping in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is famous for its cutting-edge shopping centers, and the largest one is Suria KLCC. This mall occupies the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers, more than 400 stores of world famous brands are available to its visitors. A large part of the stores belongs to the highest price category, wealthy customers will be able to shop in Hermes, Tod's and Gucci stores. Savvy visitors will have the opportunity to visit Marks & Spencer and Top Shop, and they should never ignore Vincci shoe store … Read further

Extreme and fun in Lagos

“Robinson Crusoe” Tour. Do you want to feel like a real pirate and conquer the Atlantic Ocean? Your dream will come true during your holiday in Lagos. You can contact the staff of a local travel company and book an exciting "Robinson Crusoe" tour. It costs 35 euros. You will board a pirate ship named "Santa Bernarda" accompanied by a guide and a professional team. The vessel is equipped with 2 masts. It has an antique interior finish. You will conquer the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, … Read further