| Kippreport.com

Tourism is rocking, says everybody

December 28, 2010 3:57 by Samuel Potter

The Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel, for instance (on the Palm) has been finished for months, according to Kipp’s sources, but has been waiting for the right moment to open. Its status as a completed, empty hotel, led the Mission Impossible 4 team to shoot some scenes there, apparently. Now it has just announced that it is taking bookings, with plans to open in the first quarter of 2011 – expect it to be sooner rather than later though, since an opening party is slated for next week. The hotel will be managed by Jumeirah Group, and advanced word is that it is spectacular, even by Dubai standards.

But why do those of us who have forsaken the chance to work in the travel industry care what tourism is doing? Because the tourist industry is useful for two things: Firstly, as a barometer for how the wider industry is doing (one of many, but a useful one); and secondly, for helping confidence. As Gulf News reports, strong performance in the tourism sector contributes to investor sentiment. Kipp isn’t sure how much, but frankly, right now, it all counts.

So as long as the tourists are here and happy, so is Kipp. We’d just be happier if we were running a hotel.

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