Dubai's tourism goes digital

The Princess Tower (center) stands illuminated among other skyscrapers in Dubai.

Popular attractions include the world's highest tower, Burj Khalifa, and the seven-star hotel, Burj Al Arab.

"Dubai's tourism apps Visit Dubai and Dubai Calendar address and cater to the widespread shift from desktop to mobile devices among global consumers, providing tourists information," says the tourism authority's annual report for 2016, which was released at the fair.

Over 52 million engaged with the tourism authority on social media last year, a 60 percent increase over 2015, the report says.

The number of social media followers also surged, and travel volumes increased in the first three months of 2017, year-on-year.

Dubai is the first Arab city to introduce free WiFi on public transportation like on buses and the driverless Dubai Metro as well as at popular tourism spots and public beaches.

Smartphone users can charge their devices at public Smart Palms - solar-powered, palm-shaped trees made of concrete and equipped with recharge slots for smartphones and tablets.

Paris expects such services to further develop.

"Enhancements featuring direct messaging, location-based services and other tools that allow for more personalized, direct and on-demand services will greatly enhance the level of services provided to guests, as well as provide greater efficiency in providing that service," he says.

"The UAE as a whole has one of the strongest place brands in the world and tourist-experience-enhancing technologies have been adopted by people of all ages."