DRMumbai: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) successfully concluded a three-city roadshow in India, along with partners and stakeholders, to help promote the Emirate and encourage even more Indian visitors to explore and discover Abu Dhabi.
Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director – Promotions and Overseas Offices, DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “India is a vital tier one source market for us, which is providing more and more hotel guests each year. In 2017, we recorded spectacular double-digit growth from India and are already recording further progress from the Indian market since the turn of the year.”
“We see great potential from the Indian market and we are now running a series of roadshows to cities across the country highlighting the Emirate and its attractions as we seek to capitalise on this uplift. We want to reinforce the message to lengthen their stay in Abu Dhabi, so visitors can explore the Emirate in its entirety. We have excellent air connectivity, with 270 flights a week to Abu Dhabi from 12 Indian destinations, meaning it has never been easier to come and visit us.”
Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager for India at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our persistent efforts have managed to reinforce India as one of the leading overseas source markets for Abu Dhabi. Our year-on-year performance has witnessed stupendous growth and this has been possible because of the impressive work done by our trade partners. These roadshows have helped our stakeholders to connect with the regional trade partners, further boosting tourism to the Emirate.”
The delegation, which includes the UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways, Yas Experiences, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Royal Arabian, Air Travel Enterprise, Emirates Palace, Sofitel, Rotana, Celebrity Cruise and Premier Travel and Tourism were in India from September 17 – 21, 2018. The roadshow commenced in New Delhi, moved on to Chennai and ended in Bengaluru. The roadshow saw the participation of around 350 travel agents who interacted with delegates and stakeholders from Abu Dhabi.
India is currently the second-largest overseas market for Abu Dhabi after China. Last year saw more than 360,000 Indians staying in Abu Dhabi’s 162 hotels and hotel apartments, an increase of more than 11 per cent compared to 2016. Up until July 2018, more than 227,000 Indian travellers have already visited the Emirate. With the opening of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, it is expected that there will be a dramatic surge in the growth of Indian visitors travelling to the UAE’s capital.
