80% of Expo 2020 site to be redeveloped

DUBAI / WAM

Expo 2020 Dubai, the first mega-event to be hosted in the region, will lay the foundations for a diversified and sustainable tourism
industry through a series of initiatives designed to support the UAE’s plans for diversification to a knowledge-based economy.
The strategy was revealed during Expo 2020 Dubai: The Legacy, the first session to take place on the Arabian Travel Market Global Stage, at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The panel was chaired by UAE broadcaster and journalist, Richard Dean, and featured Marjan Faraidooni, SVP, Legacy Developments & Impact, Expo 2020 Dubai. Marjan Faraidooni, said: “We planned the Expo with two missions in mind. The first is to make sure the visitor has an unforgettable experience from the second they step foot in Dubai until they leave.
“The second mission is the legacy question, Expo 2020 is being built with legacy in mind and all assets will remain after the event including the buildings and transport infrastructure.” Last year, Expo 2020 Dubai awarded over 1,200 contracts, worth US$544.5 million and a further 47 construction contracts worth $3 billion are due to be awarded in 2017. Plans for the site after Expo 2020 concludes will see 80% of the plot re-developed with all Expo’s assets and transport infrastructure re-purposed for future use by a range of tenants and major private sector firms.
Indeed, Siemens AG became the first firm to announce plans earlier this year, when it confirmed its global headquarters for airports, cargo and ports logistics, will be based out of the Expo2020 site from 2021.
Sharing lessons from the London 2012 Olympics, which saw an additional two million tourists arrive in the British capital for the games, Deirdre Wells OBE, CEO, UKinbound, advised the Expo 2020 committee to also focus on post-event destination marketing.
Commenting on the overall session, Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “The seminar also explored the importance of Dubai’s sustainable tourism initiatives, the expansion of the emirate’s airports’ capacity and the engagement of global audiences through partnerships with celebrities and social media influencers.”
Dubai’s plans to engage a wider spectrum of visitors beyond 2020, places heavy focus on social media interaction and User Generated Content, which has transformed how tourists plan, book and enjoy itineraries.
Detailing how Dubai works with celebrity and non-celebrity influencers and visitors Issam Kazim, CEO, DTCM, explained: “Many travel decisions are influenced by what people see on social media and their desire to re-create and share their own versions of the celebrity and influencer content. We work with influencers on social media to help them create shareable content that will help promote the many things happening in Dubai.