The Arab Spring that has hit many tourism destinations across the Middle East and North African region has triggered considerable growth of Gulf tourists opting for Dubai. According to Brett Armitage, Senior Vice President, Sales at Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, the tourists from Kuwait last year marked more than a 20 percent increase year-on-year. "Traditionally, Kuwait is one of our strongest and largest markets during the summer months," Armitage said on the sidelines of a Roadshow that was held in the Sheraton hotel recently.

There are three times more tourists from Kuwait who choose Atlantis as a summer holiday destination compared to the rest of the year. The reasons for that, Armitage explains, are attributed to the work done to position the resort well in the GCC market. Kuwait is the third largest market for Atlantis after the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. In the summer Kuwait is the second market after Saudi Arabia. Atlantis was conceived to cater to a large GCC tourism flow. “It is important that such a hotel is available to all GCC,” he said adding that “Atlantis is a unique and iconic destination.”

What is different this year for Atlantis? The Kuwait market is a big family destination. Therefore, the Atlantis caters to families with its entertainment park, 17 restaurants and many other leisure outlets. This is what makes us standout, Armitage says. Our booking patterns for the GCC are different compared to the European market because, for Atlantis, the Gulf region is an important market that makes some 25 percent of the guests at the Atlantis. “We structure rooms for the GCC market,” he said.

We focus on the small details, such as facilitating adjacent rooms for extended family members, providing menus in Arabic and having Arabic-speaking staff who take care of guests, he said. There is no better location for families in Dubai than the Atlantis, Armitage says. Atlantis has developed as an entertainment destination too, hosting various events and famous DJs. Many Gulf tourists stay with us just to attend the entertainment events that we host,” Armitage said.

The ongoing turmoil in some traditional holiday destinations in the Middle East, such as Egypt, serve as a boon to the holidaymakers opting for Dubai. We see a much bigger demand from the Gulf region, Armitage said. The perfect infrastructure, organized airport, excellent connectivity with many airlines, taxis, and the standard of services set Dubai apart as a world class destination, in addition to the value for money. “It is an easy and safe destination,” he said. Variety, flexibility, shopping and leisure activities as well as the peace of mind have positioned Dubai as a leading tourism hub in the region. For example, Dubai is seen as a stopover destination for holidaymakers and honeymooners en route to the Near and Far East or Europe.

Atlantis, The Palm is a 1,539 room, ocean-themed destination resort located at the centre of the crescent of The Palm in Dubai. Opened in September 2008, the resort utilizes the 46 hectares site with 17 hectares of water park amusement, further marine and entertainment attractions and a collection of some of the most renowned restaurants. Atlantis, The Palm offers an unprecedented entertainment centre, an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops and extensive meeting and convention facilities. It is home to one of the largest open-air marine habitats in the world, with some 65,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays including The Lost Chambers, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis.