Dubai for accessible tourism

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has launched ‘Dubai Team for Accessible Travel and Tourism’ to promote the emirate as a round-the-year destination accessible to all.

TT Bureau

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group recently launched Dubai Team for Accessible Travel and Tourism as part of the endeavours to consolidate the emirate’s global standing as round-the-year destination accessible to all. He unveiled the decision during a meeting with senior officials from government agencies and private organisations dealing with travel and tourism businesses.

His Excellency Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO at Dubai Airports and Team Leader, expressed deep appreciation for the support provided by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed to the travel and tourism industry in Dubai. He said: “Accessible tourism is an important sector for our national economy as well as helps promote the rights of People of Determination to move around and travel without hassles and obstacles. The Dubai team will work to offer a good image of the UAE to the world as a pioneering tourism with hospitality services for all visitors being of the best in class.”

The senior Emirati official called upon the team members, each expert in their fields, to jointly work to advice on improvements at airports, airlines, hotels, shopping centres and other touristic places to provide the best services for tourists with disabilities.

Ghassan Suleiman Amhaz, Team’s General-Coordinator, said that the number of People of Determination has reached about one billion, or the equivalent of 10-15 per cent of the total population in the world. The World Health Organization has called them an important segment of society that pumps hundreds of billions of dollars annually into the global economy through the travel and tourism streams. He said that the number of Tourists of Determination has reached about 150 million annually, who look to travel and visit cities and other destinations. According to the European Network for Accessible Tourism estimates, the volume of lost opportunities for the global economy stands at 142 billion euros.