The Eco-tourism

in the Gulf: the

case of

Presented by Elnara Mehdiyeva

International Relations and

Tourism – Case Study

Table of content• General overview• Statistics in international arrivals• The first steps toward green tourism• First eco-resort ‘Al Maha’ & 'Discus' underwater hotel, first

eco-friendly mosque• Eco-friendly activities and specific products• Eco-friendly air transport• Eco Motivations• Conclusion• Questions

General overview

• located south east of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula

• The veto power • the main priority of the economy• a new policy of eco-tourism

International tourist arrivals in Dubai 1998–2004

• Year Arrivals Annual growth rate (%) 1998 2184000 21.9 1999 2481000 13.6 2000 3027000 22 2001 3626625 19.8 2002 4756280 31.1 2003 4980228 4.7 2004 5420000 8.8

• The fastest growing destinations worldwide• The earnings from tourism exceeded US$1 billion and surpassed oil revenues that year to directly and indirectly account for over 17% and 28% of GDP

The first steps toward green tourism

• Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing• "Green Tourism Award" program to encourage : reduce or reuse waste water prevent waste implement environmental systems to realize resource

efficiencies work with suppliers to reduce unnecessary packaging use paper on both sides to reduce paper waste avoid products with hazardous properties

First Eco resort ‘Al Maha’• Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

From usual to unique 'Discus' underwater hotel

environmentally friendly hotel

underwater” tourist opportunities

safety

underwater tours

green restaurants

eco-friendly materials

The first eco-friendly mosque in UAE

• There are 188 mosques in Dubai• the eco-technologies: solar panels to heat water for

ablution and recycle plants to treat water for gardening and washroom purposes

• with eco-friendly materials /without asbestos and polystyrene

• will cost $ 6.8 million and the facility will accommodate 3,500 worshippers

Eco-friendly activities and specific products

snorkeling desert safaris scuba diving dune skiing hiking tours wreck diving

Adventure activities

Marine activities

Land-based

activities

tours to a Bedouin village historic sites/monuments moonlight street barbecues local cuisine

Cultural Activities

Nature-Based Activities• birdwatching• photographing wildlife

Attractions

Eco-friendly air transport

• The Ubited Arab Emirates International airline • eco-efficient fleet • Emirates fuel efficiency results are more than

25% better than the IATA global fleet average

Why eco-tourists are interested in visiting Dubai?

what motivates eco-tourists in

Dubai?

green accomodation

eco-friendly activities and

attractions

experiencing local culture

being in untouched wildlife areas (e.g)Al Maha

Conclusion

• Dubai is unveiling its eco-tourism face• is the best place for promoting eco-tourism• All necessary resources

• Do you think that Eco-tourism in Dubai can be a good incentive for countries practicing the advanced eco-tourism policy?

• The exploration of authentic arab culture is the tool of conserving the arab traditions?

Resources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai• http://www.al-maha.com/• http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/tourism/dubai

-hotels-glitzy-and-green• http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-17641-dubai-to-build-eco-friendly-l

argest-mosque-by-2013/#.UKegbIfhrGA• http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/todayevent/2012/J

uly/todayevent_July10.xml&section=todayevent• http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-11/news/32632940_1_mosq

ue-project-energy-conservation-dubai• http://www.emirates247.com/business/tourism-contributes-31-of-dubai-s-gdp-2012-

04-30-1.456467• http://www.mapsofworld.com/dubai/mosques-in-dubai.html

• http://green.dubaitourism.ae/component/content/article/2-home/2-background

• http://www.frommers.com/destinations/dubai/3866020277.html• http://earth.com/eco-tourism-in-dubai/• http://www.bornrich.com/discus-underwater-hotel-planned-dubai-underwater-

rooms-10m-below-surface.html• http://www.emirates.com/english/environment/efficiency_and_technology/em

irates_fleet.aspx• http://www.go-green.ae/greenstory_view.php?storyid=2069

Scolar articles

• Chris Ryan – Morag Stewart (2009), “Eco-tourism and Luxury – The Case of Al Maha, Dubai”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 287-301.

• Waleed Hazbun (2008), "Beaches, Ruins, Resorts", ch. 5• International journal of tourism research Int. J. Tourism Res. 8, 87–99 (2006)

Tourism in Dubai: Overcoming Barriers to Destination Development.• Tourism Market Trends – Middle East 2004 Ed., ch. 3, p 109-111.

Image Resources

• http://www.holidaymaker.ch/uploads/angebote/img_activities_falconry_al_maha_desert_resort_dubai_2915.jpg

• http://webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/dubai-al-maha.jpg

• http://assets.al-maha.com/XLGallery/lux3081ls99691.jpg

• http://www.arabianbusiness.com/incoming/article472874.ece/ALTERNATES/g3l/eco+mosque.jpg

• http://www.chakatravel.com/images/hotels/Jebel-Ali-Golf-Resort_and-Spa.jpg

• http://www.bestdubaiholidays.com/uploads/dolphin2.jpg

• http://content.emirates.com/english/images/Graph_07_565_tcm233-742441.jpg

• http://a1.cdnhotels.com/static/common/17.0/images/photos/city/11594_Dubai_United_Arab_Emirates.jpg

• http://arabmoneymatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/emirates_a380_21.jpg