Saudi Arabia is the first stop in a regional road show that will cover the GCC, Egypt and India.
"The regional road show started with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it was the largest tourist market for Dubai," said Ibrahim Saleh, the festival's coordinator general and deputy CEO of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE).
He added that the DEPE would market and promote the 16th shopping and entertainment extravaganza to media organizations, travel agents, and tour operators, familiarizing them with the attractions of DSF which is held annually under the slogan "One World. One Family. One Festival."
“More than 6,000 retail outlets and around 50 shopping malls will take part in DSF 2011 offering a host of discounts and sale prices of up to 80 percent on a wide range of goods and services. The 32- day event will also feature more than 150 events taking place across the emirate,” he added.
The latest statistics show a 20 percent increase in the number of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) visitors staying at Dubai hotels during the first six months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. The number of Saudis visiting Dubai also increased over the same period by 24 percent from 183,437 to 227,382 visitors.
“This increase in Saudi tourists is a reflection of our success in developing a host of attractive programs and activities,” he noted.
