Aviamost Magazine predicts 15% to 20% Increase in Russian Tourists to Dubai in November

Rita Boustany, Editor-in-Chief of Aviamost, the most popular and widely circulated Russian language magazine in the Gulf, has said Dubai should expect 15% to 20% increase in tourist influx during the November Russian holiday of this year compared to the same period in 2008.

She said: “Dubai’s tourism industry is bracing itself for a large number of Russian tourists as nearly 10,000 to 15,000 who are expected to arrive in the city during the November holiday period. According to the Russian tour operators Dubai hotels lowered their room rates by the end of 2008 and the trend continued till mid 2009. As the room rates are still the same it has helped Russian operators to sell Dubai well amid economic crisis. Due to our 15-year long experience with the Russian market we expect to witness good business in the city and so will distribute a larger quantity of Aviamost, famous for its upbeat style, to all its partners such as major Dubai hotels and airlines.”

Rita added Russians are traditionally big spenders as the major chunk of their tourism expenditure is on shopping. However, due to the economic meltdown decrease in traffic from Russia to Dubai affected summer tourism this year. But they have started pouring in the city and their presence has boosted overseas resident spending in Dubai. The magazine works closely with Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing Department (DTCM) in marketing the top Dubai attractions to tourists especially the retail industry, shopping malls and the best luxury brands they are housing. Aviamost has been instrumental in promoting tourism in the city following Dubai government’s initiatives especially to the Russians who mainly come to shop here due to the availability of the world’s best brands at lower rates compared to Russia where luxury products are taxed.