The UAE capital Abu Dhabi has the potential to become a leading intra-regional tourism destination for Jordan, according to a delegation of travel industry leaders on a recent visit to the emirate.

The delegation visited many of the top attractions including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Yas Island, for a first-hand experience of the world’s largest indoor theme park Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and also the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, the only hotel in the world to straddle a Formula-one race track, a statement said.

The delegation also explored some of the UAE capital’s conference hotels including Emirates Palace, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers and The St Regis Abu Dhabi.

Jordan has emerged as one of the emirate’s top 10 performers in terms of guest arrivals and nights, attracting 64,559 visitors in 2013. According to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) figures, the emirate has welcomed 43,632 Jordanian hotel guests in the first seven months of this year, up 27 per cent on the same period in 2013. Guest nights rose 24 per cent over the same period year-on-year to 119,706, with average length of stay hovering at 2.7 nights.

TCA Abu Dhabi believes that the introduction of July’s increased flight capacity from national airline Etihad Airways, coupled with the emirate’s broadening leisure product and events programme will prompt increased interest from Jordan, and attract a growing number of short break visitors. – TradeArabia News Service