The Hindu Business Line : Dubai hopes to `surprise' more visitors this summer

THE 7th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), festival which opened in Dubai this week has on offer a series of events and a plethora of raffles and prizes to attract hundreds of visitors during the summer months.

In a season, which in earlier years saw most citizens and expatriates fly out to cooler climes, the DSS has over the past few years not only induced many UAE residents to stay back, but brought in a large number of visitors from the Gulf and neighbouring countries, including the sub-continent.The festival aimed at children and families, is mainly focused in Dubai's 30-odd glitzy shopping malls and a number of department stores where the air-conditioned surroundings provide comfort for visitors attending festival surprises or indulging in shopping.

Mr Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Executive Officer, DSS, said in a statement made available to Business Line: "Dubai has matured into a destination that is high on the list of holiday travellers the world over. From1998, Dubai has become a place where families, mostly from the GCC states, flock to even during the summer months. In its first year, DSS received more than 600,000 visitors and was able to facilitate business of over Dh 850 million, which showed a major jump from the figures of the previous summer time. DSS 2003 was the sixth, and most successful till date, shattering all previous records.

"The number of visitors in Dubai for DSS 2003 crossed 1.560 million, marking a 20 per cent increase over visitor numbers of the previous year. The total sales figures generated by ten-weeks of intensive commercial and entertainment activity crossed Dh 1.38 billion, signifying a 20 per cent increase over DSS 2002," the official said.