Dubai: Talking Tourism

Today’s business ventures and city exploring allowed for an inside look on the way tourism has an affect on both the people of Dubai and the tourists themselves. A general theme I found as we visited the Dubai College of Tourism, The University of Dubai and the Dubai Mall is that Dubai is a multicultural hub of people that want to create or be a part of something greater. The first business visit today was at the Dubai College of Tourism. This experience was extremely interesting and we were able to learn about the science of Tourism, which opened our eyes to how complex and well thought out this industry is. We learned about Dubai’s plans for the future and the numbers they want to reach in tourism.. Dubai wants its people to believe in being educated, cultured, healthy, happy and sustainable. This is a common goal shared by all. We learned about how they are actively trying to break the barriers of the preconceived notions of the “lack of safety” in the middle east. After only four days in Dubai, we all have a much more genuine appreciation for the safety of this area. Dubai pours money into their destination marketing through regulating, strategy and focus on their people. These values have shown through their increase in tourist numbers and also the overall vibe of the people. The country believes in their “brand” and wants to invest in an optimistic and inspiring future to create greatness. This visit was led by the director of the Dubai College of Tourism and I can honestly say it broaden my outlook on what tourism is and also gave me a better appreciation for the values and mission Dubai works toward everyday.

Our next stop was the University of Dubai. Here, we were given a presentation by a professor of the university on conducting business in the United Arab Emirates. This presentation went in depth on the challenges faced in starting a business, major industries in the country, investment opportunities and how the UAE creates such a solid economy. This section was both educational and informative and gave us a better understanding as to how this country has been able to expand its business sector so rapidly in such a short period of time. An interesting takeaway from this presentation was that 98% of businesses are supported and made possible through the ruling families of Dubai. This was interesting to see that entrepreneurs are extremely welcomed here and that small businesses have a higher chance of succeeding than in the states. Additionally, we were able to talk to two young entrepreneurs about their startup digital marketing company. This was beneficial because we were able to hear a real life example to tie in the areas of business we had previously discussed. 

Lastly, we took a trip to the Dubai Mall. This mall is the largest mall in the world and after experiencing it first hand, I can confirm that there is nothing else like this in the world. This mall includes an aquarium, ice rink, and thousands of stores ranging from low price to the most luxurious brands in the world. To summarize this trip, you would need a few days to brush the surface of what this mall has to offer. After walking around many stores and getting lost many times, we headed outside to watch the light and fountain show at the Burj Khalifa. This show consisted of multiple fountains moving to the sound of music and was breathtaking. Being able to watch this as lights are being displayed on the tallest building in the world is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life!