08:28, January 28, 2010  Source: CCTV. com
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing says Chinese tourists have become the city-state's largest market in Asia.

In 2009, the number of travellers from China hit over 150 thousand, up 50 percent over the previous year. And more Chinese visitors are expected to come to Dubai this year, especially during the upcoming Spring Festival which falls in February.

Due to the recent Dubai crisis, the prices for luxury Dubai travel have been falling. The mystery and the lower prices are drawing more Chinese tourists. Local travel agencies say many Chinese families plan to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Festival in Dubai.

Chen Lin, GM of Hunter Int'l Tourism LLC, said, "In January we have received over 1,000 Chinese tourists. February brings the shopping carnival in Dubai and Chinese Spring Festival, we expect a very busy period when a lot of visitors and shoppers will come from China. We feel that the Chinese tourists have become the major customers for the hotels in Dubai."

To lure more tourists, Dubai has put forward the accommodation services of the 8-star luxury hotel and the prices of tours are cut 40 percent. The local tour guides say their schedules have been fully arranged.

Liang Huaiqiang, tourguide from Huter Int'l Tourism LLC, said, "My schedules are full. Most tours are scheduled for three or four days. The Spring Festival is a peak season for the tourism industry and we are very busy during this period. We have to pick up the tourists at the airport twice in a day."

The Dubai tourism department says the expenses of the Chinese tourists are higher than many other countries.