"INDIA HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE TOURISM MARKET FOR DUBAI!"

...Says Bader Ali Habib, Head, South Asia, Department of Dubai's Economy and Tourism, on Dubai tourism's perception of the Indian market.

Bader Ali Habib has been heading the Department of Dubai's Economy and Tourism in South Asia since 2019. South Asia contributes to over 17% of total inbound tourism to the Emirate of Dubai.

A creative and result-oriented professional with over 11 years of experience in marketing and branding, Bader is actively involved in the department's marketing strategy, digital marketing, communications and destination branding. In an exclusive interview with Hotelier India, Bader talks about his vision for sustainable Dubai, plans for the Indian market and more.....

Please tell us more about the focus on 'Working Towards Net Zero' at the ATM (Arabian Travel Market) this year?

Travellers are increasingly becoming conscious of their environmental impact and are actively seeking destinations that align with their values. To meet the evolving expectations of travellers, Dubai welcomes a more evolved, collaborative, inclusive, and long-term approach to sustainable growth. By embracing sustainable practices, we can cater to travellers who prioritise responsible and ethical tourism choices.

To further our vision of sustainable Dubai, we announced the opening of Expo City in October 2022, the dynamic legacy of Expo 2020. Expo City Dubai is a futuristic destination driven by sustainability, innovation, education and entertainment, a model city for the future of the world and an enduring legacy. Adhering to Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the Expo City Dubai is fully pedestrianized, free of single-use plastic and includes more than 1,200 LEED-certified buildings. The world's largest installation of Mindsphere - Siemens' cloud technology platform that uses smart metering and sensors to monitor energy consumption and efficiency of power, light, water and climate conditioning systems is installed across Expo City Dubai.