Dubai hosts Natalie Tours annual congress

29 per cent increase in Ukrainian tourists to Dubai

62 per cent rise in Ukrainians passing through Dubai airport

87 per cent increase in Dubai trade with Ukraine

Natalie creates a network of 1500 travel agencies in 100 Ukrainian cities

Dubai, December 15, 2013: The second annual Congress of Natalie Tours was held successfully in Dubai on December 15th 2013. For the second time, the top management of the company utilised the opportunity to meet general managers of top 100 successful travel agencies in Ukraine to discuss joint plans and development of cooperation with regard to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the key markets for the tour operator.

The Congress, held at Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, was attended by Saleh Al Geziry, Director of Overseas Promotions at Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Ghassan Aridi, CEO Alpha Tours, Vladimir Vorobiev, President of Natalie Tours, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior VP for Commercial Operations, flydubai, and Sayyora Asatova of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray.

Saleh Al Geziry, Director of Overseas Promotions, DTCM, said: “There has been an over 29 per cent in the number of Ukrainian tourists to Dubai in 2012 compared with the previous year's 54520 tourists. Between January and September 2013, about 49000 Ukrainian tourists were hosted by Dubai hotel establishments. Dubai airport recorded 62.4 per cent rise in Ukrainian passengers. Dubai trade with Ukraine also rise by over 87 per cent during this period.”

The Ukrainian tourism market has been showing a stable growth and development in provision of quality tourism products to hundreds of tourists every year. Ukraine is a young independent country in Eastern Europe with rich and significant history and culture and national values. The UAE is one of the fastest-growing outbound destinations from Ukraine with over 50,000 visitors in 2013. Natalie Tours, the leading tour operator in CIS, is actively developing the destination since the company entered the Ukrainian market three years ago.

Throughout this period, Alpha Tours, the host company in the UAE, has proved to be a reliable partner and expert in the provision of recreational services for the Ukrainian visitors. Today, Alpha Tours is a leading host company in the countries of the Persian Gulf. It is worth noting that due to productive work, Alpha Tours specialists have acquired invaluable experience and knowledge, which is key to highest level of quality and services provided to tourists from all around the world.
Natalie Tours and Alpha Tours offer Ukrainian tourists in the UAE a complete range of tourist products: different leisure opportunities in all seven emirates and a range of hotels for every taste – both luxury and economy class for families with children and businessmen, golf enthusiasts and Spa connoisseurs, as well as many other categories of tourists who can find preferable type of leisure in this country. Tourists are offered a variety of services, from meeting at the airport to providing unique excursions and entertainment.

Satisfying the summer season tourism demand in 2012, Natalie Tours was the first to make the UAE a year-around destination in the Ukrainian market. Special contribution to the acceleration of growth of Natalie Tours resulted in strategic cooperation with the budget airline flydubai.

The flight programme provides eight flights per week from Kiev, Ukraine's capital, and major regional cities - Donetsk and Kharkov. Natalie Tours is the sole travel partner of flydubai in Ukraine. During its three years of its work, Natalie Tours has created a partner network of more than 1500 agencies in 100 Ukrainian cities. Directors of 100 best agencies from five biggest cities participated in the 2nd Annual Congress of Natalie Tours Ukraine.

The Congress was held at the world-famous Jumeirah Group hotel, which points out the status and importance of the meeting of Ukrainian travel market partners. Jumeirah Hotels and resorts are one of the most luxurious and innovative brands in the world. They have repeatedly won international awards in the field of travel and tourism.

Vladimir Vorobiev, President of Natalie Tours, said: "Working with reliable partners is our main principle. Due to considerable experience of leading companies in the provision of recreation, we can guarantee quality and unforgettable vacation to every tourist who goes on a journey with Natalie Tours. I would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of our partner in the UAE – Alpha Tours.”

“Effective cooperation, common principles of management that unite our companies and honest partnership that evolved over the years have become the key to mutually profitable work and led to steady yearly growth in number of tourists sent by Natalie Tours to the UAE resorts and contributed to gaining leadership position in the Ukrainian market."

He added that United Arab Emirates is one of the most popular destinations for outbound tourism among the Ukrainians. Tourists enjoy UAE's exquisite service, excellent entertainment, year-round warm climate, stability and safety. In winter season, UAE's beach resorts are one of the most accessible with less than five hours flight from Ukraine.

Natalie Tours is the leading tour operator marketing UAE destination in CIS market. The UAE is one of the priorities and strategically important directions for Natalie Tours. The overall number tourists from Natalie Tours to the UAE in 2013 will reach 250,000, out of which 50000 are from Ukraine.

From its first year of operations in Ukraine, Natalie Tours has gained a leading position and partnership with Alpha Tours and flydubai has contributed to ensuring successful development of tourism business.

In October 2013, Natalie Tours launched an exclusive programme, Port Comfort, in the hotels, Al Hamra Palace Beach Resort and Al Hamra Village Golf & Beach Resort that are exclusive partners of Natalie Tours in CIS.

Partnership with flydubai has played a special contribution to Natalie Tours expansion for the UAE destination marketing and promotion. In 2013 the flight program includes departures from Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkov, and Odessa. Natalie Tours is a company with more than 20 years' experience in tourism industry. It is one of top leaders on CIS market for outbound tourism.

In Ukraine, Natalie Tours offers wide range of popular travel destinations with departures from major Ukrainian cities. The company started its operations in Ukraine with offers to Spain, UAE and Cyprus and multiplied its portfolio in 2013 by adding travel products to Greece, Italy, Portugal, Andorra, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles

Ghassan Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours, said: “The Ukrainian market is very important for UAE in general and Dubai in particular. It is a very promising market where the number of tourists will be increasing year after year. The number of Ukrainian tourists to Dubai this year was 50,000 and this number is expected to rise in the coming years.” The congress, he said, will help tour operators in promoting the UAE and Dubai in a big way in their markets.
Photo caption: (Left to Right) Saleh Al Geziry, Director of Overseas Promotions, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Ghassan Aridi, CEO, Alpha Tours, Vladimir Vorobiev, President, Natalie Tours, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior VP for Commercial Operations, flydubai, and Sayyora Asatova of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray