THE fledgling timeshare industry in the Middle East has been tipped as the “next hot sector for growth” by tourism leaders.

Vacation ownership, hotel apartments and other timeshare options have been tipped as the new wave of the future by tourism leaders.
According to David Clifton, Interval International’s managing director Europe, Middle East and Africa, the development of a healthy and well-legislated timeshare sector in Arabia will pay dividends across the board, right down to increasing average duration of stay.
 “The consumer holiday profile here is focused on family travel, long stays and loyalty to key destinations, as well as a need for accommodation units larger than just a standard hotel room, so vacation ownership fits the bill perfectly,” said Clifton. “In addition, timeshare can help drive the average stay up to seven nights or longer  – Dubai is currently hovering around two days only – which is essential for the ongoing development of the tourism sector,” said Clifton,
Interval International has been working with the government and key industry professionals to create a sound regulatory platform that provides consumer protection and allows legitimate businesses the ability to grow, and was involved in the recent timeshare awareness and best practice seminar, organised by Dubai’s Department of Economic Development.
A leading global timeshare exchange company‚ Interval International, is opening a Gulf sales office in Dubai, based at the Dubai Airport Free Zone, which will work with developers to expand the number of Middle East resorts and destinations available to members.