Last Updated on May 1, 2020 by WFD
Dubai is anticipating reopening its borders for holidaymakers at the beginning of July, 2020, after halting arrivals to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
The process will be gradual and could be delayed until September, depending on global trends, Helal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
“Many countries remain closed and it’s more about the bilateral discussions,” Al Marri said. “Is it going to be July when things start slowly opening up? Is it going to be September? We just need to make sure we’re ready if things come earlier than expected.”
Dubai, which spent years, turning itself into the Middle East’s main business and tourism hub, attracts millions of visitors annually thanks to its beaches, luxury hotels, and high-end malls.
Dubai received 16.7 million tourists in 2019, according to official estimates. While the pandemic has driven tourist arrivals “to zero,” the industry will bounce back and evolve to focus more on “health and hygiene,” Al Marri said.
Helal Al Marri noted that Dubai’s economic recovery, of which tourism has been one of the most impacted, will be coming across three phases.
READ ALSO: 10 Things You Should Completely Avoid Doing When In Dubai
The first, the pause phase, according to Al Marri, is where Dubai is today and the immediate focus is on ensuring that the strong relief programme put in place by the Federal and Dubai government to support travel, tourism and all related sectors is swiftly executed.
“In the second phase we will prepare to welcome limited travel from this autumn, as we gradually reopen sectors and markets. This prudent approach to reopening travel is a global question given many airports and air spaces remain closed, so we are working with all relevant bilateral organisations to have a coordinated approach to opening up,” he said.
Al Marri ended by saying “Our priority remains safeguarding the wellbeing of our guests and our people and we are working with Emirates, flydubai, airline partners and relevant authorities to support the planned reopening of routes. Emirates, in fact, have started taking bookings from 1 July. I am confident that once we enter the final phase of full reopening and return of confidence in travel behaviours, Dubai will be ideally suited to deliver the exceptional customer experience in this ‘new normal’ of tourism.”
Watch the interview below: