"Bring a Friend and Get 1.18 Million Won"... Dubai Starts Offering Cash Incentives Amid Tourism Slump
UAE Residents Must Invite Non-Residents
Hotel Accommodation Tax Suspended to Attract Tourists
In the aftermath of the Iran war, Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is actively working to attract tourists by offering a variety of incentives, as tourist numbers have declined sharply.
Dubai authorities launched the 'A Dubai Invite' program earlier this month to revive tourism, according to Yonhap News, which cited CNN on the 28th (local time). Under this program, UAE residents or citizens who recommend friends or relatives to visit Dubai are given a reward package worth 3,000 dirhams (about 1.18 million won).
Residents or citizens aged 18 or over with a valid UAE ID can recommend up to three people by October 31. According to Dubai's tourism board, guests who are recommended must be UAE non-residents with a valid tourist visa, and must enter the country by air, sea, or land to be eligible for the benefits.
Previously, in order to rebuild its tourist industry, Dubai authorities had suspended the hotel accommodation tax that was applied to luxury hotels, and abolished the 7% local tax imposed on hotel and restaurant guests.
Dubai recorded its best performance last year by attracting 19.59 million tourists, but suffered a direct blow after the Iran war. Safety concerns grew worldwide as footage showing black smoke rising from a drone attack by Iran near the Fairmont Hotel on the city's iconic artificial island 'Palm Jumeirah' was broadcast live around the world. Occupancy rates in hotel rooms plummeted from 80% to 10%.
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Although Dubai authorities are working to attract more tourists, there are doubts about how effective these efforts will be. The United States continues to urge its citizens to reconsider traveling to Dubai, and several other countries have also issued travel warnings regarding trips to Dubai.
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