Tourism

Attention in Dubai has already started to shift beyond Expo 2020 to the emirate’s long-term prospects as a tourism destination. Passenger numbers at its airport, one of the busiest in the world, have not been unaffected by regional economic headwinds. Nor have hotel occupancy rates and average daily rates emerged unscathed from the pre-expo supply boost. But the emirate remains a major draw, and by and large there is a sense among public and private sector stakeholders that the constant mining of new source markets, fine-tuning of regulation and willingness to adapt to changing visitor expectations will generate enough momentum to maintain growth both in the lead-up to Expo 2020 and beyond. This chapter contains an interview with Jose Silva, CEO, Jumeirah Group.