Saturday, September 13, 2014

Inviting tourists

Encouraging response from Indian tourists in the last six months has led Abu Dhabi to organise five roadshows in India to lure more tourists, reports rakesh kumar


After getting an overwhelming response from Indian tourists in the last two years, Abu Dhabi Tourism is now seeking to cash in on this segment of tourist arrivals. In a bid to reach out to a larger number of Indian tourists, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) has organised travel and trade roadshows across five Indian cities ~ Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Delhi. With the help of these roadshows, the Gulf country hopes to generate a high level of interest as a multi-faceted, unexplored and exotic destination for the aspirational Indian travellers. 
"Destination Abu Dhabi is fast becoming the new hot-spot for the high-end Indian travellers," said Bejan Dinshaw, country manager, TCA Abu Dhabi, India. "We enjoy a historic and cultural connect between our two countries. Abu Dhabi offers the charms of the Yas Island entertainment hub, Saadiyat Island cultural district, the historic Al Ain Oasis and the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort luxury oasis. The unparalleled array of interesting itinerary options makes Abu Dhabi a compelling destination." 

The response from the Indian market has been encouraging for Abu Dhabi. In the six months from January to June, a total of 107,995 Indians visited the country, clocking a growth of 35 per cent over the same period last year. These visitors delivered 408,862 guest nights at a growth rate of 22 per cent over the same period last. The other reasons that Abu Dhabi gives a credit to growing tourists from India is one of its most iconic landmark ~ the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was recently voted second in TripAdvisors' Travellers Choice awards for outstanding landmarks. 
"The upcoming roadshow emphasises our continued initiatives with all stakeholders on a pan-India level, when we hope to leverage on the emirate's increasing affordability with value through a highly competitive average room rate, which now stands at AED348, or just US $95," clarified Bejan. 
Abu Dhabi offers a vast range of attractions for one and all. Its Yas Island is becoming increasingly popular with Indian travellers as a complete entertainment destination. Apart from that, there are several attractions, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world's only Ferrari-branded theme park with more than 20 rides and the world's fastest rollercoaster, Formula Rossa, reaching speeds up to 240 kmph! 

F1 fans can have a thrilling experience with the state-of-the-art F1 track at Yas Marina Circuit, where petrol heads can drive a Formula Yas 3000 or Aston Martin GT4 around the same circuit as the pros. 
Yas Waterworld ~ featuring 43 rides, slides and attractions spanning a sprawling 15-hectares ~ is an award-winning water park. Soon to open, just prior to this November's Formula 1 Etihad Airways

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is the eagerly awaited Yas Mall, which will be the emirate's largest shopping mall. Along with this, the country also hosts many top-of-the-line renowned events throughout the year. Among the most popular events are: November's Formula 1 Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Art; January's Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship; and the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in March.
About Rakesh Kumar

Rakesh Kumar is a New Delhi based journalist at The Statesman, one of India's oldest and most respected newspapers. He writes in depth feature articles on issues of contemporary interest along with covering Travel, Lifestyle and Tech beats regularly. He can be contacted at urs.rakesh4@gmail.com

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