Chinese tourists are welcomed at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on February 6, 2023. (Xinhua)
Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dubai Airports, responsible for the operation and development of Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest international passenger airports, said here that a significant increase in travelers from China will help drive the recovery of the aviation industry.
KIGALI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dubai Airports, responsible for the operation and development of Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports for international passengers, said here that a Significant increase in travelers from China will help drive the recovery of the aviation industry.
“We had an excellent first half of 2023 and exceeded our pre-pandemic numbers. We expect to handle around 87 million passengers by the end of the year, which will be approximately 2 million less than the pre-pandemic figure,” Griffiths said. Xinhua at the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit held in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, from Wednesday to Friday.
The summit, themed “Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future” and co-sponsored by the Rwanda Development Board, brought together thousands of industry leaders, experts and government representatives to promote the growth of the industry and its transition to a world safer, resilient and inclusive. and sustainable future.
The growth in passenger numbers is mainly due to the increasing number of Chinese travelers visiting Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Griffiths said.
Chinese tourists pose for a photo with local staff members at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on February 6, 2023. (Xinhua)
According to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai welcomed 11.1 million overnight visitors between January and August. China ranks as Dubai’s seventh source market, with 392,000 tourists arriving in the first eight months of 2023.
When asked about new initiatives and incentives for visitors from China, Griffiths said, “The good thing is that in Dubai there are always projects in the pipeline. We are planning to cater to a broader range of interests that will attract Chinese travelers.”
Measures to attract more Chinese tourists include offering “a wider range of entertainment options, greater hospitality, increased beachfront capacity and improvements to airport infrastructure,” he said.
“We are planning to expand existing airports, expecting to accommodate around 120 million passengers over the next decade, and we believe a substantial part of that growth will originate in China,” Griffiths added. ■
