Before the start of the new tourism season, we met with the head of Al Khalidiah Group of Companies, Sirak Muradyan, to discuss innovations in the UAE tourism industry, changes in the local legislation system and possible prospects for the development of the tourism and hospitality industry.
- Many tourists do not understand what changes have recently occurred in the UAE visa policy, and are worried about this. Please comment on this situation.
The visa regime in the United Arab Emirates changed somewhat when new rules for opening visas and additional requirements for them were introduced this summer. The immigration service increased the cost of entry visas and introduced compulsory insurance for all tourists arriving in the Emirates. The presence of medical insurance is necessary for both the tourist and the company meeting him. If a guest comes from any country and does not have, for example, Russian insurance, then in this case, our insurance policy covers its absence. Thus, a double insurance system is obtained. In addition, each visa issued to the United Arab Emirates must be supported by a compulsory deposit, the amount of which is 1000 dirhams.
- What does it mean?
Travel companies are given a certain visa opening limit. Each travel agency chooses the limit that it can master, and in accordance with it, the deposit for visas is calculated, an "immigration card" is opened, and then visas for tourists.
- So, this deposit is not made by a tourist, but by a company?
Deposit amounts are paid by tour operators. Let's look at all the costs in our company. Suppose we ordered 1,000 tourist visas, made a deposit of 1 million dirhams to the Dubai Immigration Department, and we can open 1000 visas on an ongoing basis - this is our limit. If we apply for 1001 visas, the Immigration Department will refuse to open it. But this does not mean that we can accept no more than 1000 tourists a year, the process of interchangeability takes place here - as soon as some tourists leave the country, others move to vacant vacancies.
- It turns out that the limit on the number of visas will not affect the turnover of tourists?
Our company received 18,500 tourists last year, but if you look at how often we opened visas, it turns out that within one to two weeks, from 500 to 1000 visas were opened. Therefore, we chose the maximum limit of 1000 visas. This is the best option for our travel agency, and even a little bit with a margin, because we believe that in the new season the number of tourists from Russia and the CIS countries will increase.
- Will the increasing number of guests be provided with the necessary and sufficient number of hotel rooms?
As you already know, many new hotels have opened, or are at the stage of finishing work and are close to opening, this year. One of the most beautiful and exotic is ATLANTIS, The Palm (on The Palm Jumeirah island), the second is also no less beautiful - Westin (in the Jumeirah region). Hotel ATLANTIS, with its fantastic aquariums, the underwater museum of the legendary Atlantis, dolphinarium, water park, luxury restaurants and other attractions, will be a huge success in the markets of Russia and the CIS. Therefore, with great difficulty, but fortunately, we have established good contracts with this hotel, received reservation for rooms, sightseeing bonuses and now we will successfully implement them.
- The official opening of the ATLANTIS, The Palm hotel is scheduled for September 24 this year. How ready is he to receive guests?
Now there is a temporary access control there, so that a curious public does not interfere with the completion of work. Hotel ATLANTIS, The Palm is shown only to large travel agencies, tour operators from the CIS countries, various officials. For example, representatives of our company, and I, including, visited there twice, once together with the Consul General of Russia in Dubai Sergey Krasnogor. The hotel is 90% ready for its official opening, we have already received all prices, we are actively selling rooms and we receive confirmation on them.
It should be added that in October the hotel will not be sold at full capacity. ATLANTIS Hotel, The Palm has 1539 rooms, but all of them will not be implemented immediately, so as not to create unnecessary problems. Occupancy is planned to increase gradually.
- You also signed a contract with the Westin Hotel?
Yes, this hotel has already begun to work successfully in the tourist markets of Russia and the CIS countries, rooms have been actively sold all summer. And we hope that by signing profitable contracts with the largest new hotels, we now have a very good alternative if well-known hotel chains are overloaded and do not confirm rooms in season. I think that this state of affairs will not last long, a maximum of another year. In Dubai and other emirates, new hotels and resorts are opened every year, new rooms are added. And in the future, tour operators themselves will choose which hotel brand to give preference to doing their business. This season, we completely reoriented our tourists to the ATLANTIS Hotel, The Palm and its Aquaventure Waterpark - the largest in the region.
- Will excursions to the new water park be offered to those tourists who are not guests of the ATLANTIS, The Palm hotel?
Our tour department has already received a contract for the sale of tours and excursions on the territory of the ATLANTIS hotel. Therefore, all our guests will be able to fully enjoy the beauties of the underwater world, the Atlantis Museum, the aquarium and the dolphinarium, and experience exciting adventures at the water attractions of the water park. We have three types of excursions to this hotel. Firstly, a vacation in the Aquaventure water park with free access to the sea beach and a visit to beach cafes and restaurants; secondly, you can make a trip to the underwater world of Atlantis and get acquainted with the life of 65,000 fish and marine animals. Thirdly, we will offer a five-day membership card that allows you to visit the Atlantis Museum and the water park three times. It should be clarified that such membership cards, as well as one-time excursions to the territory of ATLANTIS, The Palm, will cost tour operators much cheaper than purchased directly at the ticket office of the hotel, because, according to the contract, exclusive prices are presented to travel agencies.
- So we come to the topic of new excursion programs for guests of Dubai. What will they be?
We will continue to conduct all our traditional tours of Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi. In addition, our regular customers already know that the company has acquired a 40-foot yacht for boat trips and fishing. And to improve the level of service for our guests, the company's fleet was replenished with two bunk buses and Toyota Camry cars.
- What surprises from Al Khalidiah Tourism await us in the new season?
In November, the company invited artists from the Our Russia television project. Only one concert will take place in the large hall of either the ATLANTIS hotel or the Westin hotel. But we will talk about this later in the next interview.
- Thank you, we wish you a successful start to the new season.
