Trakhees-tourism-commerce marketing ink cooperation agreement

The Department of Planning and Development- Trakhees, Regulatory Arm of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone in Dubai yesterday signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing with a view to realizing the vision and strategy of the Government of Dubai in the development of various economic and tourist sectors and meeting the requirements of the business sector. The agreement comes within the framework of their endeavors to promote cooperation in building the national economy and sustainable development and alliance of communication channels for the support and licensing of hotel facilities and travel and tourism offices in the development areas located within the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation. Arif Obaid Al Dehail, the CEO of the Department of Planning and Development- Trakhees and Khaled bin Touq, Executive Director of Licensing and Classification at the Dubai Government's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing signed the agreement during a ceremony attended by senior officials from both parties. Arif Obaid Al Dehail said: "The signing of this Agreement affirms our keenness to cooperate with all local departments and institutions to contribute to realizing Dubai's strategic vision and Dubai's position as a preferred investment tourist destination. It also reflects our concern to supporting partnership relations and synergy of efforts to achieve our joint objectives in the field of developing services that are extended to investors, and deploy all efforts and potentials which ensure simpler and easier procedures, thus achieving a positive impact on economic and tourist levels." Khalid bin Touq, the Executive Director of Licensing and Classification at the Dubai Government's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: "This agreement comes out of the elements of cooperation between the Department of Tourism and all Governmental departments, corporations and entities and the private sector to the best interest of the Emirate." "The licensing of hotel facilities and travel and tourism offices in the free zones and development areas located within the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, has come as a response to the market's need to provide a tourism product that is characterized by high quality services where tourists can receive services which exceed their expectation," he added. The agreement entails forming sub-committees which will be assigned with the mission of follow-up and coordination between both entities to determine the requirements of the sector and improve the level of services.