Dubai – Mubasher: The number of transit passengers at Dubai airport reached up 63% of the 89 million passengers who passed through the airport during the full-year 2018.
Meanwhile, only 8% of these passengers left the airport to explore the emirate, according to the latest Colliers International data published by Reed Travel Exhibitions ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019.
ATM will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) during the period between 28 April and 1 May.
Dubai eyes 20 million annual visitors by 2020, and an additional 5 million over the period between October 2020 and April 2021 for Expo 2020 expected to welcome more than 25 million visitors.
“Last year, the UAE introduced a new transit visa allowing all transit passengers an exemption from entry fees for 48 hours with the option to extend up to 96 hours for AED 50,” Danielle Curtis, Exhibition director ME of ATM, said.
He added that such a visa was good for the local economy as a whole, noting that it was a good opportunity to add value to their trip and experience everything the UAE has to offer.
Curtis pointed out: “2018 was also an exciting year for new flight routes with GCC airlines alone adding 58 new flight routes – focusing on areas of consistent and substantial growth.”
