
Travel
and Tourism industry in the Middle East has had a wide interest by all many
international firms and organizations. They were convinced that the past,
present and future of tourism confirms that the Middle East is a center of
attraction for tourists from all over the world. The historical sites, mild
climate and natural environment will attract more tourists despite the
tension and the occasional instability of the region. International Tourism
Organization was interested in the Middle East so it dedicated the year 1995
as a year for Arab Tourism. The International Bank was also interested and
it provided funding for many travel and tourism industry projects in the
Middle East including a long range comprehensive plan to develop that
industry. It has provided loans to finance infrastructure projects like
airports, roads, water and electricity.
One of the clear examples of the bright future of tourism in the Middle East
is that internal tourism in that region is nearly 60% of the number of
tourists who come to the region. Traditional tourism market places like,
Europe and America which constitute 80% of tourism in the world, constitute
only 30% of the Middle East visitors. This is a clear reference to the huge
potentials of attracting more European and American tourists as well as
other international tourists.
With the economic growth in the Arab countries in general and the UAE in
particular, this will lead to an increase in the welfare and growth of the
middle class. Consequently, internal tourism will grow with bigger rates.
One of the indicators of the increase of tourism in the UAE is expanding
international hotel firms and the fact that these firms run more than 90% of
the luxurious hotel rooms in the country. Of these active international
hotel firms in the region are the Hilton, Sheraton, Intercontinental, Hayyat,
Le Meredien, Forte and the Movenpick, Four seasons and Marriot, etc.
The United Arab Emirates is distinguished by having unique tourist areas. It
is ,therefore, not unusual that most tourists in the world, even those who
didn’t have the opportunity to visit the UAE, confirm that they must visit
the UAE and place the UAE on the top of their lists of the tourist locations
in the world.
It is not only history or religion or civilization that attracts tourists to
visit the UAE, the mild climate for almost half a year and its natural pure
environment make it the more attractive to tourists from all over the world.