Emirate eyeing Saudi market for tourism growth through ATM 2011
Abu Dhabi will be keenly targeting the GCC tourists at this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM), running in Dubai early May. "The GCC market is extremely important to us because it is a market on our doorstep characterised by a strong propensity for travel," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, International Promotions Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).
"Last year, the GCC, with the exception of the UAE, accounted for over 102,000 hotel guests to Abu Dhabi, which was a 19 per cent rise on 2009," he said. This year marks Abu Dhabi's eighth showing at ATM where the emirate's tourism industry looks to forge stronger links with the GCC trade.
"In the first two months of this year, the GCC market showed further signs of growth delivering over 20,000 hotel guests - a 14 per cent rise on the same period in 2010. Of these markets, Saudi Arabia is proving the most prolific. In 2010, some 38,633 hotel guests from the Kingdom were welcomed into Abu Dhabi's hotels - a rise of 26 per cent on the previous year. The trend continued in the first two months of this year with some 9,645 Saudis staying in our hotels - a 61 per cent rise on the same period in 2010," said Al Nuaimi.
"There is increasing demand from Saudi Arabia, where ADTA is working to establish an office to serve this important market and the demand is creating business opportunities for the trade within the Kingdom. There is greater awareness throughout the GCC of Abu Dhabi's much enhanced leisure offering making it a great, short-break destination for regional families and travellers, the Gulf trade should move to capitalise on this."
Abu Dhabi's biggest-ever tourism offering will be in the spotlight at this year's ATM, with over 45 tourism stakeholders set to fill a pavilion organised by the ADTA, with more than 80 products - some being rolled out for the first time.
"The product line-up reflects the destination's expanded offering and includes transports suppliers, hotel operators, major attractions, hospitality management companies, travel agents, tour operators, an international sports resort, MSC Cruises as well as desert, island, beach and golf resorts," said Al Nuaimi.
New to Abu Dhabi's line-up are: Al Forsan International Sports Resort, the UAE capital's latest multi-faceted destination which features a wide variety of leisure and extreme sports activities; Ayla Hotels & Resorts Management which is making its international exhibition debut at ATM and which recently opened the 153-room, four-star Ayla Hotel in Al Ain and Five Continents Hospitality, which manages the Mourouj Hotel Apartments in the UAE capital.
The pavilion will also feature some of the soon-to-open hotels in Abu Dhabi including the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa and the Jumeirah@ Etihad Towers, the first Jumeirah hotel in the UAE capital while Al Marfa Pearl Hotels Management will be launching its new rooms and watersport facilities at its Mirfa Hotel in Abu Dhabi's Al Gharbia Western Region.
"The range of new business opportunities and partners means a visit to the Abu Dhabi pavilion is essential to regional operators wishing to expand their business within the emirate," said Al Nuaimi.
© Emirates 24|7 2011
