Text № 14 Tourists

Many tourists don't want to be identified as tourists. These inde­pendent travelers try to visit the attractions they want to see on their own rather than as members of a tour group. To visit the Greek Islands, for example, a tourist of this kind might go down to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to arrange his own transportation. Less adventur­ous independent travelers might sign up for sightseeing tours on an individual basis through the travel desk at a hotel or through a local travel agent.

The majority of tourists nowadays, however, travel in groups, with their entertainment and sightseeing included in the package. We have already noted that many tour groups are formed around some kind of special purpose, such as eating a series of meals at the leading gourmet restaurants in France. All the meals—and the local trans­portation to and from them—would be included in the tour package, in addition to the standard features of air fare, transfer, and accom­modations.

The tours that are put together for resort holidays rather than special groups often offer some entertainment or sightseeing in the package as an added inducement. For instance, this may be in the nature of a "Night in Acapulco," with visits to three nightclubs and one prepaid drink in each. Or if the tour destination is in or near an area that contains historical or natural attractions, as we mentioned in the case of San Juan, sightseeing excursions may be part of the pack­age.

The two huge Disney enterprises, Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida, are the most successful examples of this kind of created tourist attraction. From a commercial point of view, they have the enormous advantage in that they are designed to appeal to entire fam­ily groups rather than to any particular age level.

Text № 16. Dubai tours and safaris

Dubai’s tour companies offer a variety of city tours of different duration and at different times of the day. As the city is compact and the roads are good, it is possible to take in most of the city’s major landmarks and sights. These would include the Greek, the souks and traditional markets, dhow-building yards, Sheikh Saeed’s House, the Heritage and Diving Village, Dubai Museum and the stunning golf courses. Specialized shopping tours offer an introduction to select souks and major shopping areas in Dubai and nearby Sharjah. Such tours are especially attractive to visitors with limited time to organize their own shopping expeditions.

An imaginative way of seeing Dubai is to take a tour of the Greek by traditional wooden dhow or cabin cruiser. Most of the major landmarks can be seen from the waterway. Daytime or evening cruises are available with food and beverages on board.

No visit to Dubai would be complete without a trip into the desert. Such excursions, which are the best organized as part of a group tour, offer a taste of the true heartland of Arabia. The majesty and tranquility of the desert can be experienced in a choice of exciting half-day, full-day and overnight safaris. Driving in sand is an adventure in itself, combining the excitement of a roller-coaster ride with the challenge of remaining mobile on the shifting surface. Courses in sand driving are available, with four-wheel-drive vehicles provided along with expert instruction.

Camel, a symbol of Arabia, is also a major tourist attraction. Camel rides are part of some tours and desert safaris. Tour operators and hotels can also arrange camel rides separately. A trip to the camel races, which take place on Thursday and Friday during the winter months, can be one of the most memorable highlights of any visit to Dubai.

Visitors with a head for heights and a weakness for the dramatic can enjoy the excitement of a helicopter tour over the city.

With nearly 400 species of birds observed in the Emirate, Dubai attracts many birdwatchers. Customized bird watching tours range from a day or two to a week or more, and take in full range of landscapes, from parks and golf clubs, to desert, mountain and Greek.