Dubai's hospitality industry must become “China-ready” as the Asian country reopens following years of Covid-19 related travel restrictions.
A senior figure in the region’s tourism sector said hotels had to be prepared for an influx of visitors from China.
This included providing menus written in Mandarin, as well as having at least one employee who spoke the language and offering favourite Chinese dishes at buffets.
It was announced earlier this year that China was open again for tourism, with the UAE being seen as a key destination for visitors from there.
“We are very aggressive about being China-ready,” said William Harley-Fleming, vice-president of operations for UAE firm JA Resorts.
“That includes making sure we have Mandarin speakers on the team and the menus are available in Mandarin.
“It’s about making sure the experience is tailored towards that market. An example is having dim sum available on the breakfast menu, that’s not something you expect from other markets.”
He was making his comments on the side lines of the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market, which is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday.
The rise in the number of visitors from China mirrored a report earlier this year in The National.
Economists and tourism experts predicted the number of visitors from China would swell to tens of thousands in the first quarter of 2023, boosted by direct flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“It’s important we adapt and react to patterns so we are ready,” said Mr Harley-Fleming.
“We need have the key touch points tailored to the Chinese market, that includes everything from the arrival at the airport, arriving at the front desk, pronouncing their names — right down to room service.
“We have to look at what they would expect and provide it.”
Hoteliers in Dubai, and across the UAE, would be well placed to cater for visitors from China, according to another expert.
“The opening of China is going to be a game changer for us,” said Haitham Mattar, managing director in the Middle East, Africa and south-west Asia for IHG Hotels and Resorts.
“However, Dubai has led the way since many years ago when it started catering for Chinese markets."
Another tourism expert said travellers from China were also showing more concern for sustainable tourism than before.
“Sustainable travel is without doubt a key priority for the Chinese market,” said Inge Huijbrechts, global senior vice president for responsible business and safety and security with Radisson Hotel Group.
A report released earlier this year by online travel agency Trip.com showed the vast majority of Chinese tourists saw sustainable travel as a priority.
The number of those who saw sustainable travel as a priority was 85 per cent, with 60 per cent saying they were concerned about climate change.
However, the same report said many Chinese tourists were unwilling to have to pay more to travel sustainably.
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
%3Cp%3EYears%3A%20October%202015%20-%20June%202024%3Cbr%3ETotal%20games%3A%20491%3Cbr%3EWin%20percentage%3A%2060.9%25%3Cbr%3EMajor%20trophies%3A%206%20(Premier%20League%20x%201%2C%20Champions%20League%20x%201%2C%20FA%20Cup%20x%201%2C%20League%20Cup%20x%202%2C%20Fifa%20Club%20World%20Cup%20x1)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
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Sunday
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London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
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