Dubai Tourism targeting CIS region and offering new visas as travel reopens

Dubai Tourism’s chief executive says the organisation is targeting new markets, particularly the CIS region, in 2021. Issam Kazim said Ukraine and Kazakhstan are big target markets, speaking to TheNationalNews.com during Arabian Travel Market. The region will also be offering more visa categories ahead of hosting Expo 2020, now rescheduled for October 2021. Kazim commented: “It can only get better…the way our government is working to open up to more and more markets as much as possible. Everything that we did during lockdown and the way we communicated has really put Dubai high on the list, if not top of the list, for most people we interact with regardless of nationality.” Kazim said Dubai is doing everything it can to restart travel with the UK, another one of its key source markets. He added: “We’re doing our part, which is making sure that we stay top of mind. It’s not about awareness any more with the UK, its about consideration and conversion. We’re there and we continue to hammer that message as much as possible. When it comes to adding us to the list, we have a very strong relationship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we’re in constant dialogue with them.”