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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com News
Nassau, Bahamas - A group of almost 50 Bahamians will be traveling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates in October 2019 and what better way to get acquainted than by having a meeting with The Bahamas’s non-resident Ambassador to UAE and Qatar, H.E. Tony Joudi. Ambassador Joudi met with the organizer of the trip, Andrea Laing-Cox , CEO of Escape Travel who said, “Whenever I take large groups to different countries, I like to engage with the Bahamian Ambassador or his representative to learn more about that country’s culture, the foods, and the do’s and don’ts for the visit.” Laing-Cox who specializes in group travel, has planned an adventure filled 15-day itinerary for the Bahamian group which includes others living in Cayman Islands , Canada, and the US. They plan to spend 5 days in Dubai, 5 days in Bali and 4 days in Hong Kong. The UAE is a federation of 7 Emirates, with an estimated population of 9.44 million people out of which 88% are expatriates “Dubai will be a great experience as it has become a hub for those who are traveling to the Middle East and/or to the Far East,” said Ambassador Joudi. “Each and every one of you serves as a good will ambassador to educate and inform the people you interact with about our beautiful and wonderful country,” he said. “We would like to see a reverse visit from the UAE tourists to visit The Bahamas and enjoy our food, good weather, hospitality, and wonderful beaches.”
Over the last 50 years, Dubai has developed from a desert nation to a cosmopolitan center with superb skyscrapers and state of the art shopping malls. They are currently building a 2 trillion dollar city in Dubai South to accommodate Expo 2020 Dubai; a World Fair that is based on “Connecting Minds, Creating The Future,” which takes place from October 2020 to April 2021. “After your trip, I encourage you to return to Dubai. Our Bahamian Pavilion that was designed by University of The Bahamas students will be a 7500 square foot, two-story structure with Junkanoo prints on the exterior facade, and an amazing interior that reflects the Islands of The Bahamas will be show cased. There will be a take-out Bahamian food outlet on the first floor and meeting rooms on the second floor for potential investors to discuss business opportunities for in The Bahamas or outside of the country.” Joudi explained that there are 180 countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai and the leaders in technology, innovation, and business will be on site for easy access. The group was also invited to consider partnering with the Bahamas Expo team to showcase Bahamian made products or craft for sale at the Pavilion’s store. They were asked to think of quantities to support a marketplace of the 25 million visitors who are expected to visit Expo. Approximately 1500 visitors per day will pass through The Bahamas Pavilion, and over the 6 month duration, more than a quarter of a million visitors would have enjoyed a Bahamian experience that would include culture, entertainment, food, products and also insights of the various islands. The Bahamas Government is committed to this project and it is a good opportunity for Bahamian entrepreneurs and businesses to embrace. Members of the group who were present for the informal meeting had many questions for Ambassador Joudi as he was happy to share his valuable insight. He also mentioned that The Bahamas have a visa waiver with the UAE, whereby Bahamians can visit the UAE without the need for a Visa. “One of the many strengths of a nation is in the strength of its passport and how many countries you can visit without the need of a visa. You will love Dubai and what it offers.” For more information on Expo 2020 Dubai, visit www.expo2020dubai.com. For more information about the group travel, you may contact Andrea Laing-Cox at 601-1706 or escapepro242@gmail.com.
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