The UAE capital Abu Dhabi has seen a strong growth in visitors from France staying at the city’s hotels this year.

From January to July end, 32,976 French guests stayed in Abu Dhabi hotels – a 14 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The French guests delivered 115,214 guest nights, which was up 3 per cent on the comparative period and they stayed, on average, 3.49 nights.

Abu Dhabi tourism stakeholders, led by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), will attend Top Resa, a B2B travel industry show, in Paris, France later this month to further promote the emirate as a global leisure destination.

The industry show will be held from September 23 to 26.

“We look forward to explaining this partnership to travel agents at Top Resa, as we extend our influence into regional France,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director promotions and overseas office, TCA Abu Dhabi.

The promotion comes as the number of French nationals checking into Abu Dhabi’s 157 hotels and resorts reached record levels in the first seven months of this year.

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s entertainment and lifestyle destination, is hoping new end-of-year developments will bring its offering into increased focus. Opening on the island this November is Yas Mall, the second largest mall in the UAE and the largest in Abu Dhabi, while a new Paradise Social Club is due to open this December on Yas Beach, which is free of charge for Yas Island hotel guests and operates a day rate for outside guests.

“At Top Resa we are looking to position Yas Island as a prime global leisure and entertainment destination for the European market, focused on delivering premium products and services to individuals and businesses alike. We expect to become the leading destination for family and business retreats as well as a resort getaway for couples without kids as well as singles,” said Karim El Guanaini, vice president, Yas Island destination management.

Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management which operates the Yas Marina Circuit, home to November’s Formula 1 season finale, is looking to promote its leisure proposition in circuit academy drives, behind-the-scenes tours and its MICE offering via its expansive media centre.

“Europe’s a key market for us,” said CEO Tareq Al Ameri. “Close to 35 per cent of our international visitors last year came from Europe while in the corporate world we hosted a major product launch for L’Oreal among other MICE successes.

“The French market is of particular interest for us as it is one of the leading markets in some of the industries we would like to expand into when it comes to the corporate world, such as aeronautical, energy, pharmaceuticals, fashion, the motor industry, luxury goods and cosmetics.”

French interest in Abu Dhabi is expected to gather pace in 2015 in the run-up to the year-end opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

“Interest in the Louvre Abu Dhabi with France has grown significantly since the showing, earlier this year, of the Birth of a Museum exhibition at the Louvre Paris,” explained Al Nuaimi. “The exhibition unveiled the best of the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection for the first time in France with 150 of the finest masterpieces already acquired by the museum being presented. We anticipate next year’s scheduled opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi will bring significant interest from French and other European tour operators.” – TradeArabia News Service