With Indian visitors emerging as the largest number of international hotel guests for Abu Dhabi over the past year, the emirate's tourism industry is embarking on a five-city road-show aimed at keeping the destination foremost in the country's outbound influencers' mind-set.
From August 25th-29th, some 14 Abu Dhabi tourism stakeholders, including Etihad Airways, Yas Island, hotels, tour operators and attractions, will join the road-show across the Indian cities of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi on a trip organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
In the first six months of this year, 107,995 Indian guests checked into Abu Dhabi's hotels and resorts – a growth of 35% over the same period last year. The arrivals delivered 408,862 guest nights, which was up 22% year-on-year with the average-length-of-stay being 3.79 nights.
"The destination is benefitting from excellent air uplift from India at the moment with our national airline, Etihad Airways, and its partner Jet Airways, providing convenient and quick travel options to Abu Dhabi from tier 1 and tier 2 cities all over the country," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director, Promotions and Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi. "This will be boosted further this February when Etihad launches daily flights from the West Bengal capital of Kolkata to Abu Dhabi." Currently Etihad Airways operates 112 flights per week from 10 Indian destinations to Abu Dhabi International.
"We anticipate further consumer interest coming for the destination with the planned release this October of the much-anticipated Bollywood movie 'Bang Bang', starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, parts of which were shot in Abu Dhabi," added Al Nuaimi."We also expect our profile in India to rise with the opening shortly of Sanjeev Kapoor's ‘Signature' restaurant in the Nation Towers on Abu Dhabi Corniche." Indian weddings are being actively pursued by Abu Dhabi stakeholders. The iconic Yas Viceroy – the only hotel in the world straddling an F1 race track – says it has successfully handled three huge Indian weddings over the past few years.
Al Ain Zoo is also reporting increased visitation from Indian travellers swayed by its special discounted family packages and its Asian Month event – an Indian traditions-themed month.
"The Indian market is huge in the U.A.E. now in terms of tourists and residents," said Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, the zoo's Director General. "They are quite good spenders on entertainment and enjoying family life. There is a growth in Indians visiting the zoo every year, particularly during our Asian month."