Dubai recognised as an incubator of innovation and technology

Expo 2020 hears how Dubai's tourism industry is being reshaped through technology, agility, incentives and more

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The Expo 2020 Travel and Connectivity Business Forum provided a snapshot of the future of Dubai's tourism industry, including how the power of travel and connectivity can contribute to a more sustainable future.

During the event, moderated by news anchor and event host Laura Buckwell and held at the Expo 2020 Dubai Exhibition Centre, Issam Kazim, executive director of the Department of Tourism and Trade Marketing and Dubai World Trade Centre (UAE), identified the key factors in successfully shaping Dubai's tourism sector. He focused on technology, fostering relationships with all stakeholders, being in tune with today's youth and remaining agile to accelerate ever-evolving models.

Citing the relationship between the public and private sectors as fundamental to the city's sustainable visitor economy, Issam Kazim said: "We listened carefully to the private sector. If you look at the period during the closure, we had regular meetings to make sure everyone was up to date in times of uncertainty, which is important for those who have invested in this city. This resonates strongly with them". With Dubai recognised as an incubator for innovation and technology, Kazim said it was important to embrace all aspects of technology: "Many want to dismiss some of the technology as a trend that is going to go away, but, over the last few years, we have seen these trends become part of our foreign policy: what we do on a daily basis".
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He said that interacting with young people and younger audiences, who are more in tune with the changes happening around them, is also critical: "everything, and being open to new ideas and fresh thinking".

With the impact of the pandemic on our personal and professional lives, Kazim said that, as a result, a positive creative turn has emerged in the UAE, with a shift from tourists to visitors and visitors to residents.

Kazim said: "We found ourselves in a position where many people were stuck in Dubai because their country's borders were closed. Our leadership extended their visas and told them to relax and enjoy their time in Dubai. There was also a big increase in people working from home, which gave us the impetus to accelerate some of the concepts we had been discussing for years but hadn't had time to execute. We launched a remote work visa, which is rapidly being accepted globally, and the UAE Golden Visa to encourage investors. Because of the way the UAE was handling the pandemic, many companies turned their attention here, realising that the security first aspect, along with business continuity, is important for Dubai. We also looked at visas for professions such as doctors".
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The crux, Kazim said, lies not only in transforming tourism, but also in convincing people to stay: "The programmes we have in place have started to build on what we, as residents, already take for granted, that this is the best city to be. It's not just about attracting more tourists to Dubai, it's about creating a place where people want to reside and set up shop."

Text, photos and video: Expo Dubai 2020.

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