Middle East 'will keep attracting visitors'

Well-off leisure travellers are set to keep visiting the United Arab Emirates, experts have predicted.

According to Luxury Travel Magazine, affluent consumers have been very keen to visit new locations over the last few years.

The publication believes this trend will, despite the continuing downturn in the global economy.

Sharon Livingston, editor of the magazine, said this is because people with high levels of disposable income are fairly well-placed to handle economic problems.

Therefore, she thinks emerging hotspots such as Dubai will continue to attract lots of visitors.

However, she added that the growing taste to explore new locations could also lead to neighbouring regions receiving more tourists.

Ms Livingstone commented: "There are also places in the Middle East that have become playgrounds for those with disposable incomes."

Luxury Travel magazine recently named Dubai as one of the top 20 predicted growth destinations in 2008.