Dubai Tourism records 6.2% growth in 2017

Dubai had a record international overnight visitation in 2017, which totalled 15.8 million, up 6.2 per cent over the previous year.  The Emirate’s top 10 source markets contributed a share of 59 per cent of total tourist volumes, with the remainder made up of highly diversified markets across the globe, according to the Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (Dubai Tourism) Annual Visitor Report 2017.

As per the report, three out of four visitors were families and couples, with individuals making up 14 per cent, friends 8 per cent, and colleagues 3 per cent of total visitation. Around 73.8 per cent of tourists travelled to Dubai for leisure purposes, with those visiting friends and relatives making up 13.9 per cent of the total, and business travellers 11.5 per cent.

The report also says that 77 per cent of visitors chose to stay in paid accommodation, as opposed to staying with friends and relatives. The Dubai Mall remained the city’s most popular attraction, drawing 97 per cent of visitors, followed by The Dubai Fountain with 81 per cent, and heritage and cultural districts with 63 per cent.