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Dubai Moves to Become World’s First Most Visited City

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**Records 15.8m Int’l Overnight Visitors in 2017

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Last year, Dubai recorded a strong 6.2 percent year-on-year increase in international overnight visitation, accelerating the 5 percent growth witnessed in the previous year and propelling the emirate’s momentum towards its 2020 goal of welcoming 20 million visitors per year by the start of the next decade.

According to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), a total of 15.79 million tourists visited Dubai last year, setting a new record for the emirate and underlining the sustained strength and resilience of its travel and tourism sector.

Commenting on the development, His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, said: “Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the emirate has continued to capture the share of the global outbound travel market, complemented by a significant increase in tourism-driven economic contribution to the country’s GDP.

“Our strong 6.2 percent growth in 2017 has allowed us to ramp up the pace towards meeting our 2020 targets, and we remain confident that our performance, backed by the continued strength of our partnerships across government and private sector stakeholders, will enable us to successfully attain our goals of becoming the number one most visited city as well as being the most recommended with the highest number of repeat Dubai loyalists.”

India retained top spot in 2017, contributing 2.1 million visitors, becoming the first country to cross the 2 million mark in a single year.

The country’s performance represented a 15 percent year-on-year increase and validated, among other factors, the success of Dubai Tourism’s ongoing collaboration with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the multi award-winning #BeMyGuest campaign.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) maintained its second rank, contributing a total of 1.53 million tourists last year, maintaining its position as the highest driver of traffic volumes from within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Third-placed UK, meanwhile, delivered 1.27 million travellers, rising 2 percent over 2016, underscoring Dubai’s enduring popularity among British travellers.

Impressive results from some of Dubai’s remaining top 10 source markets for inbound tourism included fifth-placed China with 764,000 tourists, up 41 percent while eighth-placed Russia with 530,000 visitors, recording a stellar 121 percent increase over the previous year.

Both markets benefited from easier access following the introduction of visa-on-arrival facilities to Chinese and Russian citizens in late 2016 and early 2017, respectively.

With increased contributions also from the USA, Germany and Iran, at 633,000, 506,000 and 503,000 visitors respectively, collective gains across all of these markets helped mitigate the decline in visitation observed from some of the regional markets like Oman and Pakistan.

Western Europe replaced the GCC as Dubai’s main regional source market with a 21 percent share, contributing more than 3.2 million travellers, up 5.5 percent.

Although last year’s top performer ended 2017 in second place, the GCC region still maintained a high share of volume at 19 percent, delivering an overall 3.02 million travellers to Dubai. This 4 percentage point decline in GCC share was, however, effectively countered by year-on-year increases in tourist volumes from all other regional source markets except Australasia.

The South Asia region, in third place, contributed an 18 percent share of over 2.8 million visitors, up a strong 10.6 percent, followed by the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and North and South-East Asia regions in joint fourth position, each contributing close to 1.7 million visitors and independently commanding 11 percent share, the former recording a 3.2 percent increase and the latter, an impressive 23.6 percent over 2016 visitation figures.

Underscoring the successful delivery of its diversified market strategy, Dubai’s regional mix saw the biggest year-on-year gain of 51.8 percent from the Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe block, contributing more than 1.1 million visitors and representing a share of 7 percent; the Americas with a 6 percent share made up of just under 1 million visitors, up 7.7 percent; the Africa region with a 5 percent share made up of more than 780,000 travellers, up 6.7 percent; and finally Australasia countries with a 2 percent share of overall volumes, with a total of just under 340,000 visitors.

Supporting the city’s priority agenda to always offer something new, unique and world-class to every global traveller, 2017 saw further strides made in broadening Dubai’s appeal to a wide spectrum of visitors.

The city’s newest beachfront district, La Mer, opened to provide families with a new hotspot for dining, playing and unwinding, while Etihad Museum was inaugurated to give the culturally curious an enriching overview of the birth of the United Arab Emirates and the fathers of the nation.

Meanwhile, Dubai’s new era of live entertainment saw yet another boost with the inauguration of La Perle, the region’s first resident theatrical show, performed in a state-of-the-art aqua theatre in Habtoor City.

Dubai’s major theme parks – IMG Worlds of Adventures and Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR) had their first full year of operations in 2017. And continuing to enhance Dubai’s attractiveness as a global shopping destination following its launch in December 2016, Dubai’s Retail Calendar saw both traffic and engagement across the 12 months of shopping-related festivals, promotions and seasonal offer periods, mega-sales and clearance events, exclusive retail experiences and activations.

Among the openings towards the end of the year were Dubai Frame and Dubai Safari. New destination offerings coming online in 2018 include sections of the Dubai Historic District, giving visitors an immersion into the rich history of the emirate, glimpses of how people used to live and work, and traditions and customs that remain to this day. To add to the mix is UAE’s first national park, Al Marmoum, which launched at the beginning of 2018, providing an opportunity for tourists to interact, learn and appreciate the wildlife flora and fauna of the emirate. With more options for visitors, combined with key fundamentals and the UAE’s status as the second ranked country globally for safety and security, according to the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, a firm path has been set for further growth in visitation numbers.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Travel/Tourism

Digital Integration in the 2026 Global Travel Sector

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Global Travel Sector

The manner in which international travel and digital entertainment intersect has experienced a massive transformation in the current year. As the volume of international travel continues to rise to unprecedented levels, the technological potential to access a 1xbet giriş from any point in the world has become the benchmark by which the efficacy of a given system or network should be judged. In 2026, more than 65% of international travel hubs have completely integrated standalone 5G connectivity, providing the environment that is required to enable high-stakes sports viewing. This means that regardless of the position that the sports aficionado finds themselves in, at the top of a mountain or at the coast, the nature of the information that flows will remain the same. The modern-day traveler expects nothing but the best, and that includes the manner in which they will be able to engage with the digital hobbies that they have been able to cultivate during the course of the year.

The way in which the experience is felt has also been improved through the efficiency of the software that is used to power the mobile experience. If the user has opted to install the 1xbet apk file on the 2026 flagship device, the user is able to experience the new “Travel-Adaptive” coding that reduces the background data usage by 30% when traveling internationally. This is an important aspect of the experience because the user may find themselves in transit for an extended period of time without the ability to plug in and charge the device. As the statistics show for the first half of the year, the user of the mobile The application is able to experience a 25% reduction in data usage when traveling compared to the user who makes use of the mobile web browser in order to experience the sports entertainment the user has grown accustomed to. It is a more relaxed experience where the main aspect is the thrill of the game.

The Role of Mobile Betting in Modern Tourism

It should be noted that the modern betting process concerning sports is considered to be one of the most effective ways to get entertained during a long flight or when staying at the airport. Mobile betting is considered to be a unique opportunity for a tourist not just to view a sporting event, but also to become an active participant of that sporting event that is taking place on the other side of the world. Thanks to the speed of modern applications, it is possible for a tourist to react immediately to the changes in the score and adjust the predictions accordingly during an excursion or when staying by the pool. Such an event is considered to be an adventure in bright colors.

Apart from the entertainment that such modern platforms offer, they also present a great number of analytical data that allows the tourist to get engaged in the process. One of the main purposes of such tourism is to get satisfaction from the accuracy of one’s prediction, as well as competition. Such platforms pay great attention to the safety issues, reminding the tourist that “betting should be an additional positive experience of your trip.”

Network Benchmarks for the Connected Traveler

The sports enthusiast who is always on the go would find that the line which separates an enjoyable experience from an unenjoyable experience of sports betting is measured in mere milliseconds. In fact, the world average of mobile latency for tourist destinations has been reduced to mere 16ms in 2026, which is an important consideration for sports enthusiasts who enjoy sports betting for games such as tennis and basketball.

The table below shows the current standards for mobile network performance for the most prominent tourist destinations around the world:

Network Metric Global Average 2026 Satisfaction Rate Primary Use Case
Download Speed 195.6 Mbps 88 percent High-definition streaming
Signal Latency (5G) 16 ms 92 percent Real-time Live updates
Roaming Cost 1.15 USD / GB 74 percent Continuous background sync
App Load Time 1.8 seconds 85 percent Rapid market entry
Connection Stability 99.8 percent 91 percent Uninterrupted viewing

As per the latest research findings on the subject by the research company named Statista, it has been identified that the need for high-speed mobile data for the tourists is rising by an increase of 40%. This is mainly because the tourist would like to experience a form of ‘multi-layered’ entertainment. The definition of ‘multi-layered’ implies that the sports enthusiast would like to view a live streaming event, access his or her social media account, and place a friendly bet on the event simultaneously. Therefore, as long as this infrastructure is in place, this would thrive.

The Evolution of Mobile Betting as Travel Leisure

In the year 2026, mobile betting for sports would be considered a fun way of spicing up the entire travel experience. This is because it would be able to provide a new dimension to a sporting event that an individual is witnessing while traveling in a pub or a train. It would be able to provide individuals with a way of having a personal stake in a world event. Thus, the hours that an individual spends in a train or an airport would be able to pass quickly with a fun way of gamification of sports viewing.

In the year 2026, modern mobile betting has turned out to be a full-fledged way of socializing for travelers. This is because many individuals use the co-watching features of the application and group betting features of the application in order to compete with their friends back home or connect with other sports fans of the sport that they are watching while visiting pubs around the world. It is because it would be able to provide individuals with a new dimension of traveling. It is no longer just about traveling to a new destination; it is about becoming part of a new world community where talking about the probabilities of winning or forward performance of a team is considered to be the universal language of communication. It is no longer just about betting; it is about getting the rhythm of the world of sports wherever an individual is located—from the cozy European roads to the futuristic cities of Asia.

Popular Mobile Sports Activities for People on the Move

Individuals who travel in 2026 have managed to come up with their own ways of having fun through sports without missing out on their sightseeing targets. There has been a new trend of “micro-betting,” which refers to betting on a game that will happen in the near future.

The following is a list that points out the best mobile sports-related activities for traveling individuals for the current year:

  • Predicting the total points scored in one quarter of the basketball game while in short transit stops.
  • Tracking the sports player that is most likely to score the next goal in the football game while in a cafe.
  • Determining the total number of games in one set in the tennis game while in downtime at a resort.
  • Viewing the percentage of ball possession for a particular team through the use of graphical overlays.
  • Predicting the exact number of free throws scored in a game while in downtime at a hotel.

The activities will be perfect for the downtime in the traveling schedule as they will provide the individual with a dose of excitement without making the individual glued to his/her screens for hours. This way, the individual will be able to appreciate the digital world as well as the beauty of the world he/she is in.

Security and Responsible Habits Abroad

However, with the introduction of mobile transactions during travel, the factor of security has been regarded as a major factor. In fact, in the current scenario, 94% of the total mobile sports platforms provide multi-factor biometric authentication. This means that the security of your account is ensured even when you are accessing the internet through a public source of internet connectivity, such as Wi-Fi. Moreover, the majority of the platforms provide “Smart Limits” that are location and time zone-based. In this way, an individual can develop a habit when they are traveling. All of this has been done in a way that the overall experience remains a positive one. This is because betting is something that an individual chooses for his or her entertainment.

The innovations in the field of technology, such as the introduction of technology through eSIM, allow an individual to remain connected. This means that an individual does not face “bill shock” when they are using roaming.

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Travel/Tourism

FG Adopts Hybrid Access Gate Payment System at Airports

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By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The federal government has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to adopt a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.

This system is to be used until the introduction of a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at the airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, disclosed that these decisions were reached after reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed.

FAAN had earlier commenced an electronic payment system last week, but it was suspended by President Bola Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created.

Yesterday, the Aviation Minister met with officials of FAAN and senior officials of the Ministry, and it was agreed to engage concessionaires for the introduction of a fully automated or electronic system.

Mr Keyamo, in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Tunde Moshood, said motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.

It was also resolved that other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available, while members of the public and road users were encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the organisation continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.

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Tinubu Suspends Cashless Airport Toll Gate Payment System

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airport toll gate

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The cashless airport toll gate payment system introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

At the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr Tinubu directed the agency to immediately return to the status quo, pending the development of a more efficient system.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, who announced the suspension after the FEC meeting today, said the action followed gridlock that trailed the new system, which caused passengers to miss their flights.

FAAN had commenced the cashless payment system for airport toll gates across the country in a bid to block revenue leakages and adopt an electronic payment system instead of cash.

But this policy caused traffic gridlock at several airports, especially those in Lagos and Abuja.

“Mr President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were losing their flights, missing their flights.

“So, Mr President, out of empathy, directed today that we should suspend the present system because it creates a lot of gridlock, and Nigerians are suffering as a result of it,” Mr Keyamo informed newsmen.

“The major reason why Mr President took this decision is to eliminate the present gridlock that we are experiencing, especially at both the Lagos and Abuja toll gates leading to the airport.

“That’s the major reason, not that the President is happy with the cash system,” he added.

The Minister further said the President directed stakeholders to “go back and, if possible, even engage the private sector to ensure that we establish an electronic system by which we can collect these revenues for the federal government at the gates, to the extent that it will not create the gridlock that we are having right now.”

“We are going to do a hybrid system whereby we can collect cash temporarily and, of course, use the cards that they have collected temporarily for now,” Mr Keyamo added.

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