Hala China oversees signing of three agreements between China’s Hainan Province and Dubai to boost tourism industry
Hala China oversees signing of three agreements between China’s Hainan Province and Dubai to boost tourism industry
February 20, 2019- Agreements signed at Special Symposium on Tourism Exchange and Cooperation present new opportunities for tourism joint ventures between Hainan and Dubai
- Alignment of tourism ambitions between Hainan and Dubai offers enormous potential
- Chinese Consulate in Dubai, Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, Hala China, travel agents participate in seminal signing
Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed this week by key political and tourism entities from the Hainan Province in China and Dubai at the Special Symposium on Tourism Exchange and Cooperation. The three strategic agreements will support and incentivise the potentially enormous two-way tourism opportunities between the Chinese province and the emirate, in addition to offering a raft of new business opportunities.
The signing of the agreements was witnessed by His Excellency Liu Cigui and Sheikh Majid Al Mualla. The first MOU saw Hala China and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province sign the cooperation framework agreement. The second MoU saw Hainan Kangtai Travel Agency and Hala China DMC sign the cooperation agreement. And the third MOU saw Hainan Health Care Group and Dubai Duwaya Group sign a contract worth a total investment of more than AED 540 million.
Organised and hosted by Hala China – the joint initiative between Meraas and Dubai Holding – the signing was attended by a number of high-level representatives. His Excellency Liu Cigui, Governor of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, His Excellency Chen Xi, Director General of China’s Department of Commerce, Her Excellency Tan Li, Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai and Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hala China were all present at the signing of the agreements at the Shangri-La Hotel.
His Excellency Liu Cigui said at the signing: “The agreements we have signed are a testament to Hainan’s significance in the global tourism industry. To be establishing synergies with these progressively-minded partners in Dubai is an important and exciting development that drives awareness of both the Hainan Province and Dubai as some of the most dynamic and fascinating tourist destinations in the world.”
Speaking about the agreements, Her Excellency Tan Li said: “This week we witnessed yet another instance of the ever-strengthening bilateral ties between our two countries. By aligning the tourist ambitions of the Hainan Province and Dubai, we see how working together continues to offer prosperous opportunities for us both, while all the time keeping the interests of the citizens that will benefit most from these memorandums at the core of our thinking.”
Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hala China, said: “These agreements will have a significant impact on Dubai’s push to diversify its economy. In line with the pioneering vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, what we offer the global travellers of today is a hub of tourism activities and experiences that is unique and unrivalled. Joining together with the Hainan Province is only going to further strengthen our offering, while also offering something back to our residents and visitors.”
The Hainan Province is one of the top tourist destinations in China. In 2018, it attracted more than 76 million overnight international and domestic visitors.
It is estimated that more than 270,000 Chinese expats live in the UAE. From January to November 2018, the number of transit tourists visiting Dubai reached nearly 800,000, a year-on-year increase of 12 per cent. The inaugural Chinese New Year celebrations at City Walk in February 2018 attracted more than 22,000 Chinese and other visitors. This year, that number is expected to rise even further with the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism confirming an active participation. The Grand Parade at City Walk alone, in fact, already attracted more than 30,000 people.
China is Dubai’s largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year. In 2019, the UAE and China have entered their 35th year of diplomatic relations. The 2018 visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vice President Wang Qishan to the UAE strengthened the relations between the two countries.