Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry is heading to Berlin, Germany, for the largest travel trade show where a delegation from the emirate will highlight three key destinations.

The Abu Dhabi pavilion at ITB Berlin will emphasise the diverse nature of three destinations for visitors in just one emirate - Abu Dhabi city, the UAE’s capital; Al Ain, the emirate’s heritage heartland and Oasis City; and Al Gharbia, the emirate’s Western Region, where the desert meets the sea.

The trade mission to ITB Berlin, which runs from March 4 to 8, is led by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) with a 90-strong portfolio representing the best of the emirate’s hotels, resorts, attractions, tour operators and destination management companies.

“This is our largest delegation since we first started participating in ITB Berlin in 2005 which is reflective of our continually expanding product base,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director promotions and overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“We have a diverse range of attractions spread out across the emirate and we want to encourage visitors to immerse themselves in our depth and diversity of experience available while also experiencing our culture and history. Europe, and in particular Germany, are key markets for us with excellent air links out of Dusseldorf, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich to Abu Dhabi and we have even more now to offer our guests than ever before,” Al Nuaimi said.

“Germany remains one of our leading hotel guest markets accounting for 138,604 hotel guests last year – a 16 per cent rise on the previous year,” he said.

Companies heading to the travel trade event include Arabian Nights, a destination management company specialising in inbound and outbound travel services and desert leisure activities; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s entertainment destination, which is home to the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari World and the iconic Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi hotel; and leading hospitality group Danat Hotels & Resorts.

Visitors to the Abu Dhabi pavilion will be given the opportunity to cycle and fly around Abu Dhabi’s key attractions through a virtual 3D game platform using iPads and a big screen, with visitors able to win daily prizes by achieving the fastest lap around Abu Dhabi. – TradeArabia News Service