The Tribune

A group of almost 50 Bahamians who will be travelling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates in October recetly met with The Bahamas’s non-resident Ambassador to UAE and Qatar, H.E. Tony Joudi.

Andrea Laing-Cox, CEO of Escape Travel, explained: “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 a 15-day itinerary for the Bahamian group which includes others living in Cayman Islands , Canada, and the US. They plan to spend five days in Dubai, five days in Bali and four days in Hong Kong.

“Dubai will be a great experience as it has become a hub for those who are travelling to the Middle East and/or to the Far East,” said Ambassador Joudi. “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.

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. Approximately 1500 visitors per day will visit and over the six-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.

Ambassador Joudi 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.