Firm to give 200 Nigerians all expenses paid trip to Dubai for shopping festival

The Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing on Tuesday said it had concluded plans to host 200 Nigerians on paid trips for the 2016 Dubai Shopping Festival in January.

Stella Obinwa, the Regional Director of Africa International Operations of the corporation, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria at the ongoing Akwaaba Travel Expo in Lagos.

Obinwa said the trips were for the corporation’s frequent Nigerian customers and consumers.

She said the idea was to strengthen the tourism and cultural relationship between Nigeria and Dubai, United Arab Emirate.

She said: “This is our first time of attending Akwaaba Travel Expo and our aim is to highlight Dubai as a shopping and family destination of choice.

“Dubai is a must-visit destination in 2016 with incredible new shopping and family fun experiences at the shopping festival scheduled for January.”

Obinwa said Dubai had significant investments increasing tourism from Africa and all around the world.

She said: “We are ready to support and work with Nigerian travel agencies and all airlines on a friendly bargaining for the 2016 Shopping Festival.

“Dubai is ready and willing to receive high influx of Nigerians and foreigners to grace the festival and also to experience the best tourism and hospitality treatment.”

Obinwa said the corporation’s appearance at the expo was to create awareness about the shopping festival to the world, particularly to those who love shopping, entertainment and family fun.

“We are here to show that Dubai is going to out-do itself in this regard in 2016, with incredible new attractions and opportunities that can’t be missed,” she told NAN.

Obinwa said Nigeria is one of Dubai’s best-performing African markets, with over 300,000 visitors arriving in Dubai from the region in 2014.

She said: “Emirates operate three flights daily out of Nigeria, augmented by additional flights from within the region operated by Ethiopian Airlines.

“Etihad Airways, Rwanda Airways, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Royal Air Marco also operate flights from Nigeria.

“When it comes to shopping, nobody does it better than Nigerians and Dubai do shopping like no other city.”

Obinwa said shopping was a major attraction among African travellers and Dubai was highlighting its incredible retail offering to Nigerians in several innovative ways.

NAN.