Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has rolled out its full mobile strategy with 'native' mobile applications of its destination portal now available for iPhone, Android & Windows Phone, giving users instant access to all that’s new in the emirate, with content going straight to mobile devices.

This roll out coincides with a major upgrade of the authority’s VisitAbuDhabi.ae destination portal to 'responsive' technology enabling its content to fit all mobile screens regardless of brand, technology or screen size.

“We had pent up demand for mobile solutions with VisitAbuDhabi receiving 1.3 million visits via mobile devices, including tablets, last year alone and our new mobility suite addresses this,” explained Mouza Al Shamsi, the acting executive director of marketing & communications, TCA Abu Dhabi.

Visit Abu Dhabi mobile apps provide content and a series of services in nine languages assisting visitors in every step of their visit in the emirate. Designed to address the emerging mobile market, the apps are a direct answer to the behaviour of travellers who increasingly check information on their mobile devices, rather than on a computer or in a printed guide.

“Mobile is now a digital essential in the travel and tourism world,” said Al Shamsi.

Built as a visual trip planner, the VisitAbuDhabi apps are a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate online and offline mobile guide to all there is to see and do in the emirate. With a location-based functionality, the apps give instant and structured information on all of the emirate’s attractions and experiences, its culture and heritage, hotels and quickly answer most frequently-asked questions.

"Supported by an easy-to-navigate Abu Dhabi Systems & Information Centre (ADSIC) map and covering everything from events and restaurants to malls and spas, the apps are designed to inspire travellers to Abu Dhabi, inviting them to cool off on a cruising experience, marvel at the emirate’s architectural wonders, tee-off at one of Abu Dhabi’s championship-standard golf courses, or embark on a once-in-a lifetime desert escape," stated Al Shamsi.

Reaching over three million visits a year, with a daily average of over 10,000 clicks, visitabudhabi.ae is a one-stop-shop for people wanting to explore the emirate, giving them easy access to interact, in any of nine languages  - Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese - with extensive, dynamic information on Abu Dhabi’s attractions and experiences, culture and heritage, events and recreation activities.

Conceived with travellers’ needs in mind, VisitAbuDhabi’s multilingual hotel, flight and car search aggregates live deals and availability from booking engines, and is complimented by a trip planner facility, allowing travellers to build and share their virtual trips to Abu Dhabi, said Al Shamsi.

Topping a quarter of a million Facebook fans, and 70,000 Twitter followers, the destination’s social media channels invite travellers to become active contributors to the destination, to post, comment, get inspired and share their experience, he added.-TradeArabia News Service