Dubai’s Expo 2020 bid would support over 277,000 jobs from now until 2021 according to a report by Oxford Economics.
40% or 147,000 of the employment opportunities generated would be in the travel and tourism sector, indicating significant potential for permanent roles to serve the expanded economy post-Expo, the report continues.
The research outlines the positive impact for the wider region, showing that for every Expo employee approximately 6o additional jobs will be sustained across other parts of the MENA region.
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Commenting on the recent findings at the recent UNWTO Ministerial Forum at the ATM, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and managing director of the UAE’s Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, said: “Dubai Expo 2020 will leave a lasting legacy not only in the UAE but also beyond its borders. As our theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ suggests, Dubai Expo 2020 aims to welcome the world to collaborate and build partnerships for sustainable development.
"In that, Dubai Expo 2020 will spur significant employment, trade and investment opportunities for the entire MENASA region, leaving lasting economic impact.”
His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre added: “Tourism is a vital pillar of Dubai’s economy and has contributed to the city’s economic growth, success and diversification.
"With the strength of Dubai’s infrastructure, geographic location and global connectivity, Dubai Expo 2020 can expect to attract 25 million visitors during the six months between October 2020 and April 2021, 71% of which would originate from outside the host nation for the first time in Expo history.
"This is important because the additional demand created by World Expo would provide real and exciting opportunities in employment, new attractions and incentives for the travel and tourism sector, not just for the UAE but for neighbouring countries in the region and beyond.”
Dubai is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the Expo 2020. The winner will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 163 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions, the international organisation responsible for selecting World Expo host cities.
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