Abu Dhabi Week in India set to begin second leg of two-city roadshow

ABU DHABI: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, DCT, has concluded the first leg of its promotional tour ‘Abu Dhabi Week in India’ following three days in the city of Kochi in Kerala and now heads to Kolkata in West Bengal.

The three-day event in Kochi was a resounding success, with thousands of people turning up to witness displays of the emirate’s landscapes, architecture, attractions, culture and cuisine. The roadshow, the second time the event has been held in India following a successful launch last year in Delhi and Mumbai, has been designed to capitalise on the record numbers of Indian hotel guests staying in the emirate.

Last year more than 360,000 Indians stayed in Abu Dhabi’s 162 hotels and hotel apartments, an increase of more than 11 percent compared to the previous year. Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions and Overseas Offices at DCT, said, "Our inaugural Abu Dhabi Week in India event towards the end of last year was extremely well received by the Indian public. Highlighting the emirate as a perfect holiday destination for our Indian guests by bringing a taste of the emirate to their own country is part of our strategy of increasing further growth from a vital tier one market that has excellent potential to develop further.

"We had double-digit growth from the Indian market during 2017 and aim to build on this success through roadshows such as this, combined with structured marketing campaigns and by utilising our overseas office based in Delhi. We have excellent air connectivity, with 282 flights a week to Abu Dhabi from 13 Indian destinations, meaning it has never been easier to come and experience the emirate for our Indian guests."

Visitors to the roadshow were treated to virtual reality tours of the emirate including videos of Yas Island and desert and water trips, while on display were representations and models of the recently opened Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and Al Dhafra Region.

The second leg of the roadshow takes place in Kolkata from 23rd February for three days.