The Dubai tourist industry is back on course, defying global trends, with the City of Wonders expecting to draw over 5.5 million international tourists this year, confident that new markets would help compensate for the loss of travelers from important locations where travel is limited.

Last year, when the tourist industry was hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, Dubai received 5.5 million international tourists. 16.7 million Tourists came in 2019.

The UK, Dubai's third-largest source market in 2019, has prohibited direct flights and required visitors from the UAE to stay in hotel quarantine.

As per Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), tourist numbers from emerging markets in Europe, Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are progressing nicely.

“Every one of these markets will start to stack up, ultimately filling the gaps and providing us with a much better basis to develop a confident comeback moving forward,” he informed Reuters at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

With several worldwide locations closed due to the epidemic, the Middle Eastern city reopened its gates to international travelers in July and was a popular vacation destination around the New Year.

The inflow of international tourists, however, overlapped with a second wave of coronavirus illnesses throughout the UAE, prompting Dubai to tighten capacity limitations on hotels and eateries. This week, several constraints were lifted.

Kazim attributed the increase in case numbers to a high rate of testing in the UAE, noting that the more individuals who get tested; the more infections would be discovered.

Infections in-country have now dropped from a daily high of 3,977 in February to about 1,300. Authorities do not provide figures for each emirate.

Dubai also expects Expo 2020, which will be held from October to March after being postponed due to the pandemic last year, to attract a large number of first-time visitors.

Before the coronavirus epidemic, expo organizers predicted that the event would draw 11 million international visitors. Ras Al Khaimah emirate in the UAE's north anticipates 915,000 tourists this year, a 14 % rise over 2020 but still a decrease from 1.1 million in 2019.

“I am cautiously hopeful that we could probably do better than that given the way things are going, and there is so much ambiguity,” Raki Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, told Reuters.

The Arabian Travel Market 2021, the region's largest trade and consumer event and an important fixture on the world travel and tourism calendar were attended by Dubai Holding, a multifaceted global holding corporation with activities in over 13 countries. Under the theme ‘A New Dawn for Travel and Tourist,' Dubai Holding is sponsored by Jumeirah, Global Village, Hatta Resorts, Hatta Wadi Hub, and Dubai Parks & Resorts in a hybrid gathering to demonstrate the breadth of Dubai's tourism portfolio.

Jumeirah, Dubai Holding's flagship hospitality label and worldwide luxury hotel firm, has showcased its most recent updates and progress concerning its growth and expansion objectives and sharing insights on improving guest experience during the previous year. Jumeirah is one of the UAE's most renowned domestic brands, with 23 properties and +6,500 keys spread around the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, as part of its aim to consistently raise the standard in the worldwide hospitality sector.

Hatta, one of the UAE's most renowned eco-friendly adventure spots, has also participated in ATM as part of Dubai Holding's continued relationship with Dubai Tourism, sharing enhancements from its just finished an extremely successful season at Hatta Wadi Hub and Hatta Resorts. Hatta Dome Park, an incredible new glamping concept by Dubai Holding, has been added for the season. Hatta Wadi Hub, which incorporates Hatta Resorts, has been open to the public for three straight seasons, having received over 500,000 tourists from more than 120 nations to far. Dubai Holding has been instrumental in developing Hatta's tourist and investment opportunities, exhibiting the picturesque mountain resort and its vibrant offering to the rest of the world. Dubai Holding will keep contributing to the Hatta Development Plan, which would be part of the Leadership's vision and a significant component of the recently released Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

Global Village, the UAE and broader region's cosmopolitan family destination for culture, shopping, and entertainment, wrapped off its Silver Jubilee season earlier in the month, attracting a large number of visitors and receiving international acclaim. The season finale included the “highest altitude skydiving firework show,” marking Global Village's 25th Guinness World Record in just six months - a choice made at the outset of the season by the determined team to commemorate the momentous anniversary.

Dubai Parks & Resorts, the Middle East's largest combined recreational and theme park venue, has also showcased its latest products targeted at delivering guests of all ages and interests fresh and unparalleled experiences.