Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry is heading to China this month, to visit three cities - including two for the very first time - with a dedicated roadshow aiming to showcase the emirate to the People’s Republic and to reinforce the already rapid growth of inbound tourism from the country, said a report.

A five-strong delegation, led by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and comprising travel agents, attractions and the country’s national airline Etihad Airways, will visit Shanghai, Kunming and Shenzhen over five days from September 10, said a report in WAM.

China is the largest overseas market for Abu Dhabi, with 2017 seeing 373,400 Chinese guest arrivals into Abu Dhabi - an increase more than 60 per cent over 2016. Up until July this year, more than 242,000 Chinese guests have already visited the emirate, an increase of almost 14 per cent over the same period in 2017.

"It is crucial for us to continue to increase our presence in the Chinese market and boost awareness about the many and varied products we have across the emirate – especially as we have so many new and exciting offerings. China is our number one overseas source market," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director Promotions & Overseas Offices, DCT Abu Dhabi.

"We are still working towards encouraging our Chinese visitors to experience more of our tourism offerings and spend longer in the emirate. Last year we welcomed more than 373,000 Chinese guests to Abu Dhabi, and we are already on course to surpass that figure by the end of 2018. We hope this Roadshow will help reinforce our messaging in China and help maintain these impressive inbound gains and also encourage longer stays for our Chinese friends."

"Visiting Kunming and Shenzhen for the first time will also hopefully assist us in getting our message out to a wider audience of potential travellers," he said.

Joining DCT Abu Dhabi will be Yas/Miral, Nirvana Travel & Tourism, Royal Arabian, Omeir Travel Agency as well as the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad Airways, the report said.    

The ‘Discover Abu Dhabi’ roadshow will take place in Shanghai on September 10, in Kunming on September 12 and finally Shenzhen on September 14, it said.