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

Davos travel guide

Davos is an internationally famous Swiss ski resort. The town is widely recognized as one of the best mountains resorts in the world. For more than 50 years, fans of skiing from all over the world have been charmed by this gorgeous place. Davos is also a frequent location for various sports competitions. The resort has a well-developed tourist and sports infrastructure. It’s also important to mention that there are several premium wellness centers in the town. A vacation in Davos will be … Read further

Cuisine of Besancon

Besancon will pleasantly surprise culinary experts with a choice of restaurants, bars, and cafes. It is easy to find dining venues specializing in different cuisines of the world in the city. Many restaurants in Besancon offer quite exotic food, so there’s no wonder why they are so popular with gourmet visitors. Brasserie 1802 is one of the best dining venues for tourists who want to try a classical version of the national cuisine. This is an incredibly romantic and cozy place with live music … Read further

Traditions and festivals in Waalwijk

When visiting Waalwijk (like any other city, however) it is recommended to take into account some features of the mentality of local residents. When it comes to qualities immediately striking the eye, we should note some restraint and courtesy. The locals never refuse to help, that's how it works. However, you must treat local culture with respect and demonstrate the same tolerance to people, if there is no desire to become an unsympathetic person for Waalwijk residents. Local residents can … Read further

Aachen cultural sights

Perhaps, beautiful cathedrals and churches remain the main attractions of the city. There are 27 religious places of interest in total in Aachen. Aachener Dom Cathedral is the most notable of them. This is a beautiful Gothic building, in which were crowned German emperors. Cathedral of St. Mary is a no less remarkable place. The church was built in the end of the 19th century. The local synagogue is an outstanding architectural monument, which is built in the Moorish style. One more important … Read further

Colorado attractions and entertainment

Colorado is famous among entertainment lovers, first and foremost, for its outstanding natural attractions and world famous ski center of Denver. Vacationing in the capital would appeal not only for those who love skiing, but also for those who are fond of mountaineering and snowboarding. In addition to sports entertainment, Denver ski resorts arrange hiking through scenic forests; many sports facilities and centers are waiting for tourists. The ideal place for a family holiday will be the … Read further

Isla Margarita for families and kids

If you are planning a trip to Margarita with the whole family, you will not be disappointed. Conditions for holiday with children of any age are quite comfortable here. There are several parks on the island. You should visit them. Diverland is among them. This amusement park is famous for its roller coasters and Ferris wheel. It is the highest in Latin America. You will find attractions for both toddlers and older children here. These are various carousels, trampolines, inflatable slides, and … Read further

Shopping in Guadalajara

There are many stores in Guadalajara where clothes and shoes of excellent quality can be purchased at great discounts. A perfect example is Acuario footwear store, where Mustang brand loafers will cost about 30 euros. For a similar price, ladies will choose a new pair of Pavana shoes. However, they also sell more expensive models of shoes. You can purchase footwear with great discounts during periods of sale. The city has an original Dekko Woman store which will certainly impress women. It … Read further

Extreme and fun in Gdansk

Gdansk is a popular tourist city where it’s not so easy to find streets or places free from walking tourists. If you have long had a desire to diversify walking around the city and sightseeing with something non-standard, go on a tour of the post office. To be more precise, to the post office No. 50 ( Urząd Pocztowy 50 ), which is located on the Royal Way near Gdansk Glowny station. This outwardly unremarkable post office keeps a lot of secrets. The ceiling here is made of translucent … Read further