Finance coordinator Basma Al Shamsi and Events Manager Suhaila Saqer Gobash presented a revamped DSS 2008 to visitors to the International Travel Bourse (ITB) in Berlin this week , while promoting DSF 2009.
DSF targeted Japanese and Chinese tourists for 2008 but plans to appeal increasingly to European tourists next year.
“In the coming years we’d like to have not only Asian but European tourists,” Al Shamsi said.
“There’s no event which has become a separate identity like DSS and DSF,” Gobash said.
Gobash said the results of DSF 2008, along with new strategies for the festivals and the revamped DSS 2008, would likely be released at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
“We’re looking to focus heavily on the quality rather than the quantity,” Gobash said.
“We’re trying to satisfy the taste of Dubai visitors. People want more high-end events.”
German visitors to the stand were particularly interested to learn more details of the events.
“Most of the people knew about Dubai but not much about DSS,” Al Shamsi said.
“People are also interested to know more about the festival. Many people are asking about the discounts.”
ITB also presented several possible partnerships, including events and advertising, which will be presented for consideration of the officials upon their return to Dubai.
