1.8 million visitors: India tops list of Dubai's 100 tourist source markets

April 28, 2017

Dubai, Apr 28: India has topped the list of Dubai's 100 tourist source markets for the second time, with a total of 1.8 million visitors last year. The Annual Visitor Report 2016 was released by Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) during this year's Arabian Travel Market.

Saudi Arabia (1.6 million) and the UK (1.2 million) were other prominent names on the list. According to the data, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remained the number one volume generator for tourism to Dubai, delivering the highest share of visitor volumes for 2016 with a total of 3.4 million, up 5 per cent over 2015.

Saudi Arabia contributed the highest number of travellers among the GCC countries, followed by Oman, with Kuwait in third place and Qatar in the fourth, both retaining their top 20 status and registering an annual growth of 2 and 9 per cent, respectively.

"In many ways, Dubai represents a 'home-from-home' experience for our neighbours, making both an extended holiday, quick getaway and an attractive travel proposition," Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing CEO Issam Kazim said.

"A short flight from their home country opens up unique experiences for our guests from the GCC – who are made up of large families with children, young couples, business visitors, solo travellers and adventure-seekers," he said.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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