The Chinese Visitor Summit, aimed at giving top Chinese tourism producers specific destination networking opportunities, will return to the UAE capital this year in September.

 

Organised by Nicholas Publishing International (NPI) in partnership with the Shanghai-based i2i Group and backed by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), this year’s event will run on September 2 and 3 with networking and conferences hosted at the recently-opened, beachfront Ritz Carlton Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi.

 

The event will bring 75 top Chinese outbound tourism firms to Abu Dhabi in a bid to increase the emirate’s Chinese visitor numbers to participating destinations, attractions and hotels, said a statement.

 

The Chinese delegation, which will also comprise 10 leading Chinese media, will include CEOs, general, product, outbound and MICE managers, sports events producers from wholesale, retail, leisure, golf, adventure and FIT operators.

 

“The summit is dedicated to building inbound Chinese visitor numbers by matching buyers to over 100 travel providers from throughout the UAE and Middle East including hoteliers, attractions and retailers keen to tap into this lucrative Asian market,” said Rob Nicholas, managing director, NPI.

 

“The market is wide open with the UAE currently representing less than 10 per cent - or 31,980 travellers - of the delegation’s accumulative outbound business. And with more than half of the delegation having less than three years’ experience working with UAE suppliers, their appetite for new product is extremely keen.”

 

Last year’s summit proved extremely successful for Abu Dhabi with 76 Chinese travel agents and tour operators, 10 Chinese media and several Chinese government travel dignitaries receiving their first exposure to the destination.

 

 “Summit partners and suppliers went above and beyond to impress the Chinese delegation. We are looking to build on this momentum and to particularly highlight our expanding tourism proposition which has been boosted over the past 12 months with new resort and attraction openings and tour product enhancements,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director promotions & overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi, which operates a visitor and destination promotion centre in Beijing. – TradeArabia News Service