DTCM scoops three World Travel Awards for Dubai

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing scooped global recognition for the Emirate of Dubai in three categories at the 2012 edition of the World Travel Awards presented on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM-2012) at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa on Tuesday.

Mr. Majid Al Marri, DTCM Director of Classification, along with Mr. Jerad Bechar, Director of Dubai Convention Bureau, and Mr. K.G. Udaya Indrarathna, DTCM Executive Director Tourism Affairs, received the awards from the President and Founder of World Travel Awards, Mr. Graham E. Cooke, at the ceremony. A packed delegation of VIPs, senior tourism figures and international media travelled from more than 30 nations to attend WTA’s Middle East Ceremony 2012.

Dubai bagged the awards in three categories – Middle East’s Leading Destination (for the second year running), Middle East’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination and Leading Cruise Port.

The World Travel Awards, established 19 years ago, encourages travel and tourism organizations to set new boundaries for customer service, value, and innovation in their quest to create the ultimate travel and tourism experience.

Winners are decided by votes received from agents and travel professionals from around the world. This year, about 200,000 travel industry professionals from travel agencies, tour operators, transport and tourism organizations in more than 160 countries all over the world participate in the voting to nominate the winners.

Mr. Majed Al Marri said the awards recognized the team spirit and commitment which both government and private sector organizations have put in to make Dubai excel in tourism industry and also acknowledged the solid standing of Dubai is niche segments like cruise and MICE. “

“DTCM has been successfully promoting and marketing Dubai to boost the tourism industry in overseas markets. The WTA recognition endorses the wide support and appreciation we have been enjoying from the travel industry,” he added.

Mr. Graham underlined the depth and quality of the travel and tourism sector across the Middle East.
He said: “Dubai’s appetite for pushing boundaries makes it one the world’s most innovative tourism destinations, as well as a most fitting host to start our WTA Grand Tour 2012.Our winners are also drawn from the entire breadth of the Middle East, reflecting the monumental gains that the region’s travel and tourism sector has made in recent years.”