Metro 'will encourage tourists to explore Dubai'
12 September 2009
One of the main benefits of the new Dubai Metro system will be the freedom that it provides to tourists, according to an industry representative.
Ian Scott, UK director of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said that the public transport network will have a 'considerable impact' on the travel industry.
He said that tourists will be able to jump on the Metro to visit parts of the city they may not have considered seeing previously.
Commenting on the layout of the system, Mr Scott said: 'All the stations have been strategically located close to tourism hubs and the business centres too.
'So you'll have stations like the airport and Burj Dubai, Burj Al Arab, Emirates Towers and [they] will go down to the Dubai Marina.'
The Red line, the first part of the Dubai Metro network, opened this week and will be joined by the Green line in 2010.
According to figures released by the DTCM, Dubai welcomed more than 1.8m international visitors between April and June this year, representing a 4% increase on the same period in 2008.