Expo 2020 Dubai accelerates recovery of UAE’s aviation, tourism and hotel sectors – The National

Expo 2020 Dubai accelerates recovery of UAE’s aviation, tourism and hotel sectors – The National

Expo 2020 has accelerated recovery of the UAE's tourism, aviation and hospitality sectors from the pandemic, helped by the country's effective management of Covid-19 and by easing travel restrictions globally.

Leisure and business travel, hotel occupancy rates, room revenue and footfall at shopping malls improved because of the influx of tourists drawn to the six-month mega event ending March 31, analysts said.

Emirates, Dubai's home airline, recorded healthy seat load factors and strong travel demand to the emirate across its network during Expo, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates group chairman and chief executive, told The National.

"This is due to a combination of factors, including the UAE’s successful management of Covid-19, which was critical to many countries quickly easing travel restrictions to and from Dubai and building traveller confidence," he said. "Interestingly, Emirates has noted an increase in first-time visitors to Dubai among our customers during the past months, which shows the pull of Expo 2020 and strong traveller interest in Dubai."

Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest international airport and Emirates' base, recorded in 2021 its busiest fourth quarter since the pandemic, with Expo being one of the key contributors to passenger traffic of 11.8 million.

During the Expo, Emirates