Abu Dhabi has the potential to become a leading intra-regional tourism destination from Jordan according to a delegation of travel industry leaders on a recent whistle-stop visit to the emirate.
Citing a combination of first-class infrastructural development, high-quality accommodation, an expanding array of family attractions and increasing air access, the Jordanian operators believe the emirate can gain a larger slice of outbound travel from the Kingdom, according to Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi.
The 11-strong trade delegation – guests of TCA Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways - visited many of the emirate's top attractions including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - ranked by TripAdvisor as the world's second most recommended landmark in its recent Travellers' Choice Awards; and Yas Island - the emirate's entertainment destination - for first-hand experiences of the world's largest indoor theme park Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the award-winning Yas Waterworld aqua park and the iconic Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, the only hotel in the world to straddle a formula one race track.
"We have seen year-on-year hotel guest arrivals growth from Arab non-GCC markets of 20 percent, and with Jordan's performance outstripping this average, it remains something of a sleeping giant which is prime for further growth," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of Promotions and Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.
"This largely untapped potential persuaded us to stage our first inbound familiarisation of Jordanian travel trade who will help us convert further business from the Kingdom." Abu Dhabi's family attractions are key to attracting the Jordanian traveller, according to Loai Naswari General Manager of Beit Almakdes Travel. "It's clear that you can spend a day at each of Yas Island's theme parks so I will encourage clients to stay longer to enjoy everything else the emirate has to offer. The children will love it!" he said.
Jamila Al-Sadi, Head of Corporate Travel at Amman based International Traders, was left in no doubt about the business potential. "I ‘m excited about opportunities associated with medical and religious tourism which will appeal to travellers from Jordan and think my clients will consider the fact that Abu Dhabi is not over-crowded as a positive factor when compared to other regional tourism hubs," she said.
"I can also see business potential by shifting business into Abu Dhabi to take advantage of the state-of-the-art conferencing facilities we have seen at some of the capital's hotels." Jordan has emerged as one of the emirate's top ten performers in terms of guest arrivals and nights, attracting 64,559 visitors in 2013. According to TCA Abu Dhabi figures, the emirate has welcomed 43,632 Jordanian hotel guests in the first seven months of this year, up 27% on the same period in 2013. Guest nights rose 24% over the same period year-on-year to 119,706, with average length of stay hovering at 2.7 nights.