As per latest data, Dubai has recorded a footfall of 16.73 million tourists in 2019, an improvement from the last two years.
International visitors grew by 5.1% last year but fell short of the target of 20 million tourists by 2020.
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“While the global economy remains in a state of flux, we can clearly see an exciting opportunity to further grow Dubai’s dominance in the tourism industry in 2020,” said Dubai Tourism chief Saeed al-Marri, according to the Dubai Media Office.
Indians were at the top of arrivals with about two million visitors to Dubai which saw a dip from 2018. Saudi Arabia ranked second with 1.6 million visitors to Dubai.
Earlier Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai had announced that tourist visas in the UAE will now be issued for five years.
The move is expected to provide a boost to the tourism industry and make it easier for residents to bring relatives to the country for visits.
The city is famous for malls, luxury resorts, vast sand dunes and the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa, that is the prime attraction in Dubai.