DUBAI — Dubai expects to get 20 million visitors per year starting in 2020 and its tourism sector’s contribution to the economy will triple, the Dubai-based Gulf News newspaper said on Saturday.



It said it was one of the primary goals in Dubai’s Vision for Tourism for  2020, which was approved on Saturday by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.



Shaikh Mohammad affirmed that the UAE has succeeded in placing itself among popular tourist destinations on the global map by launching ambitious developmental initiatives and quality projects, the paper said.



The Dubai ruler also highlighted the economic importance of the tourism sector and how it has helped put the UAE at the forefront of regional and global tourism, Gulf News said.



“We are aware that such goals are ambitious, but more important than ambition is realizing these goals in reality. We are confident that the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing is capable of achieving what it aims for given the previous accomplishments and the positive results attained,” Shaikh Mohammad said. – SG