Although the conflict in West Asia disrupted air travel across the region, Dubai is looking ahead. The temporary closure of Dubai International Airport — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — had a ripple effect on India, which has strong business, tourism and diaspora links with the UAE. Now, as the emirate welcomes visitors once again, Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), explains how they are responding to changing travel behaviour in an exclusive interview with The Hindu.Dubai has been a popular destination for Indians for decades: have you seen a change in travel patterns after the West Asia conflict began?Perception is often influenced by headlines, but what ultimately drives travel decisions is confidence in safety, accessibility and value. Amid evolving regional narratives, Dubai remains safe and stable, with public services, hospitality venues and transport networks functioning to the standards our visitors expect from us. In moments of uncertainty, travellers globally tend to shorten booking lead times. That is a natural behavioural response. However, what we are not seeing is a structural decline in travel intent.
Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing
