BMI: Number Of Tourists Visiting UAE Will Fall 3pc In 2009

BMI’s UAE Tourism Report Q3, published this month, said “Our forecast of negative growth in tourist arrivals in 2009 remains - 3 per cent year-on-year.” The report attributed the poor outlook in the short term to downward revision of forecasts for UK and European economies, which accounted for 40% of all arrivals in the UAE in 2007. BMI projects a small recovery in 2010, but maintains the UAE tourism sector will continue to face a challenging period ahead because of weaker growth in tourist arrivals in Dubai in Q109, and slower growth in arrivals to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi last year.