UPFRONT
PHOTO: REISEUHU ON UNSPLASH
Dubai mulls July tourism reboot DUBAI COULD WELCOME BACK international visitors
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as early as July or as late as September, according to the emirate’s tourism chief. In an interview with Bloomberg, Helal Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTM), said the destination and its partners were preparing for overseas travellers to return and would be ready for “any eventuality”, but acknowledged the tourism bounce back would be gradual and depend on multiple global factors. “Tourism is on pause and I see that continuing for at least a couple of months, but after that, I see a staggered and tentative approach across the world,” he said. Essential travel would be the first to resume, followed by “postCOVID-19” leisure travel when consumer confidence returned. “What we do know is that more people than ever are looking online to plan their next holiday and they are looking at Dubai,” said Almarri. Travel trends already witnessed pre-COVID-19 would dominate, he continued. They included reduced group travel, replaced by more individual independent travellers, while late bookings would become the norm. Travellers will seek health and hygiene assurances first and foremost, Almarri added.
JUNE 2020
DUBAI ISSUES NEW HOTEL HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES
DUBAI HAS INTRODUCED stringent hotel health and safety guidelines as the emirate starts to ease lockdown restrictions for UAE residents. Only guests with booking confirmation or those who have pre-paid online are permitted into hotel lobbies and they must complete mandatory health declarations and wear face masks at all times, the Dubai Government announced last month. Social distancing procedures are robust too, with one guest permitted every four square metres. The new guidelines also make it compulsory for hotel entrances to implement contactless screening for all guests and employees, with security staff tasked with ensuring compliance. Online check-in and check-out procedures are encouraged and
FACE MASKS OVER S OCIAL DISTANCING: AVI AT I O N B O DY GLOBAL AVIATION BODY, the
International Air Transport Association (IATA), supports passengers wearing face masks on board aircraft as a “critical part” of biosecurity measures when commercial air travel resumes, but does not support mandating social distancing that would leave middle seats empty. “Evidence suggests the risk of transmission on board aircraft is low,” it said in a statement. “Maskwearing by passengers and crew will reduce the already low risk, while avoiding the dramatic cost increases to air travel that onboard social distancing measures would bring.”
there must be a minimum of 24 hours before a room is re-occupied by a new guest. This time period is extended to 72 hours if the room has been occupied by a suspected COVID-19 case or frontline workers such as nurses. Hotel restaurants must not surpass 30 per cent occupancy and maintain a minimum distance of two metres between tables. The government also advises that hotels encourage in-room dining and take-away services. Private hotel beaches are now open to in-house guests, all of whom must undergo temperature checks and adhere to social distancing rules. However, at the time of press, hotel bars, waterparks, theme parks, pools, sauna and steam rooms, spas, nightclubs and prayer rooms were told to remain closed.
Flexible booking with TIME Hotels TIME HOTELS has launched two
new promotional packages to make it more convenient and wallet-friendly to stay at its UAE properties. Due to current uncertainties surrounding the lifting of travel bans, the local hotel company has rolled out a fully flexible booking option. It means guests can book now and pay for their stay when they check-in; cancel or modify their booking free of charge; and enjoy a 4pm check-out on their final day. TIME is also launching a package to give guests a third night free when booking a two-night stay, with complimentary breakfast and late check-out included. Both promotions include access to all hotel leisure facilities, complimentary WiFi and indoor parking and are valid until September 30, 2020, subject to availability.
