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Abu Dhabi roadshow targets Indian tourists

Abu Dhabi, August 26, 2014

With Indians accounting for the largest number of international hotel guests in Abu Dhabi over the past year, the emirate’s tourism industry is embarking on a five-city roadshow aimed at keeping the destination as a leading tourist attraction.

From August 25 to 29, 14 Abu Dhabi tourism stakeholders including Etihad Airways, Yas Island, hotels, tour operators and attractions, will join the roadshow across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi which has been organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), a statement said.

Lama Desert Tourism, which opened an office in Abu Dhabi city two years ago and is offering packages to the emirate, says it has seen a 15-20 per cent rise in its business especially from India’s tier 2 cities, it said.

“At the roadshow we will launch winter specials at hotels and various attractions across the emirate including luxury packages and other best deals especially tailored for Indian travellers,” said Kulwant Singh, managing director.

In the first six months of this year, 107,995 Indian guests checked into Abu Dhabi’s hotels and resorts – a growth of 35 per cent over the same period last year. The arrivals delivered 408,862 guest nights, which was up 22 per cent year-on-year with the average-length-of-stay being 3.79 nights, the statement said

“The destination is benefitting from excellent air uplift from India at the moment with our national airline Etihad Airways and its partner Jet Airways providing convenient and quick travel options to Abu Dhabi from tier 1 and tier 2 cities all over the country,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director, promotions & overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“We anticipate further consumer interest coming for the destination with the planned release this October of the much-anticipated Bollywood movie Bang Bang starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, parts of which were shot in Abu Dhabi,” added Al Nuaimi. “We also expect our profile in India to rise with the opening shortly of the Sanjeev Kapoor ‘Signature’ restaurant in the Nation Towers on Abu Dhabi Corniche.”

Indian weddings are also being actively pursued by Abu Dhabi stakeholders. The iconic Yas Viceroy – the only hotel in the world straddling an F1 race track – says it’s successfully handled three huge Indian weddings over the past few years. “All of them involved bookings of above 200 rooms and we are now looking forward to targeting at least three more weddings in the forthcoming year,” said Ibrahim Korkut, director of sales and marketing, Yas Viceroy.

Al Ain Zoo has also reported increased visitation from Indian travellers swayed by its special discounted family packages and its Asian Month event – an Indian traditions-themed month. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: abu dhabi | tourism | Roadshow |

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