For the fifth consecutive year, the DTCM, in cooperation with Alpha Tours, is hosting the annual congress of Natalie Tours, the leading Russian tour operator.

The five-day event started on Monday, September 28, at Atlantis The Palm and is being attended by more than 200 representatives from Natalie Tours network in addition to officials from DTCM and Alpha Tours.

Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, DTCM Executive Director Business Tourism, said the emirate has been attracting greater attention in the Russian and CIS markets as a destination of choice for business and leisure.
 
He thanked Natalie Tours and Alpha Tours for their efforts in bringing more Russian tourists to Dubai over the years.
 
DTCM, he said, accords greater importance to Russian market which remains comparatively stable and promising for Dubai.
 
This is reflected in the number of Russian tourists coming to Dubai over the years. In 2008, the number of visitors from Russia, CIS and Baltic region were 512,342, an increase of 21 per cent compared with the previous year. In the first half of 2009, Dubai played a host to 204,153 Russian tourists. The total number of Russians passing through the Dubai International Airport in 2008 was 596,344, an increase of 26 per cent compared with the year 2007.
 
This year, the department, which operates a representation office in Moscow for the Russian, CIS and Baltic regions, is participating in five major Russian tourism exhibitions, including the just-concluded Leisure-2009. In June, DTCM conducted Dubai Road Shows in Baltic States and will be holding Dubai Workshop in Kiev next month.
 
Mr. Ghassan Al Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours, also highlighted the important role Russian market plays in the growth and expansion of tourism industry in Dubai. He thanked DTCM for facilitating the tourism industry to reach out to the Russian market and consolidate the position.
 
He said the number of Russian tourists staying in five-star hotels in Dubai has increased and there has been a good demand for Dubai holidays among the Russians for the next season as well.
 
Mr. Al Aridi said the global recession that hit the global industry late last year has not been able to make a major dent to Dubai's tourism industry from the Russian market perspective. Russians continues to come to Dubai and the decision by Natalie to host this congress for the fifth successive year clearly reflects the confidence and interest in Dubai among the Russian tourists.
 
Ms. Natalia Vorobieva, Director General of Natalie Tours, said Dubai continues to be a most in demand tourist destination in Russia. She said her organization along with Alpha Tours have been able to play a major role in promoting Dubai in the Russian market successfully.