UAE rides crest of Chinese tourism boom

China's fast-emerging middle class is providing a lifeline to the United Arab Emirate's tourism ambitions, as the Gulf country fights to meet its goal of attracting 15 million tourists by 2020.

The UAE is spending billions of dollars on visitor attractions and luxury hotels in a bid to diversity its petrodollar-driven economy, a blend that has proved appealing to China's increasingly wealthy citizens.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) advised that UAE capital hosted 1,256 Chinese travellers in August, a rise of 14% on the year-earlier period, with an ADTA spokesperson noting "we take the Chinese market extremely seriously."

In neighbouring Dubai, Chinese visitors are rising with more than 150,000 visiting the emirate in 2010. The figures showed a 41% rise on the previous year's figures, the city's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said.

Basel Abu Alrub, Managing Director of UAE-based travel agency Utravel explained that "the Chinese market poses a new untapped opportunity for the UAE tourism sector.

"The UAE attracts the Chinese by offering a metropolitan that has something to offer for all kinds of travellers. It also acts as a hub connecting China to Western Europe."

Among the main attractions for Chinese tourists are tax-free luxury goods, branded hotels and the wide array of traditional Chinese cuisine, he said.

A large share of China's tourist spending is already flowing beyond its borders, with many luxury retailers counting Chinese among their biggest spenders.

By 2015, China expects 100 million people to venture abroad, making the Asian country the world's biggest outbound tourism market.

This influx of budget and luxury Chinese travellers means a mix of tour operators, iconic hotel chains, airlines and retailers are all in a position to profit, Alrub said.

UAE brands have not been slow to capitalise on the China boom. Abu Dhabi flag carrier Etihad said in December it would bolster its existing flights from Beijing with four, non-stop services a week from Chengdu, China's south-west economic hub.

In July, the state-backed airline said it would operate daily returns between the UAE capital and Shanghai from March 2012.

Dubai's Jumeirah Group has identified Chinese travellers as the fastest growing group of guests in its hotels with a spokesperson noting "the number of Chinese guests staying in Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts in Dubai has risen steadily, and they are now on the list of our top nationalities."

Image shows a concept for Abu Dhabi's Louvre Museum.