This refers to ‘Model to follow?’ by Zuhair Tawfiqi, (GDN, November 22). A recent visit to Dubai proved to me that indeed it is a role model. Its name is associated with trade and tourism.
Prior to being a tourist hub, Dubai became a global commercial centre. The free zone business model has opened doors to hundreds of thousands of business people from every continent to flock to Dubai and make business transactions. Nearly every businessperson from around the world, be it in poor African or Asian country, has visited Dubai one way or another, an Indian shop owner in downtown Dubai told me.
The emirates, which are not short of innovations, built the tourism business after they made their country a successful business hub. High-rise buildings including the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and dozens of tourist attraction sites mushroomed in the desert emirate. The hundreds of tourist attraction sites are income-generating machines. Visitors pay a hefty amount to enter the Burj Khalifa building and other landmark attractions.
Dubai has built one of the finest metro transport systems of its kind in the GCC, transporting millions of people annually; a distance as far as from Manama to Isa town takes not more than 10 minutes!
At Dubai International Airport, you witness thousands of arriving travellers from around the world, of course, some tourists and others business people. All of them spend in hotels, restaurants and transportation.
GCC countries, except Bahrain and the Emirates, have poor tourism records of accomplishment. Saudi Arabia is investing millions of dollars to attract tourists, hitherto an unknown opportunity. Western entertainers, sports people and ordinary tourists have started to arrive and so far, the government seems satisfied with the income generated.
Dubai appears to be the role model GCC countries need to imitate to develop and prosper. It seems easier said than done but investment in infrastructure and setting up of innovative tourist attraction sites, are the requirement to be on par with Dubai.
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