TCA Abu Dhabi charts out global tourism strategies
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TCA Abu Dhabi in a recent meeting charted out strategies for the coming year in order to provide an aggressive push to the tourism segment. 
TCA Abu Dhabi’s Overseas Officers Summit which was recently held witnessed participation from 10 promotion overseas offices. Country managers and staff were in Abu Dhabi to outline stakeholders their 2013 campaigns aimed at increasing conversion of destination awareness into visitation.
The Summit is being held under the theme ‘Connect. Convince. Convert’ had representatives from USA, UK, France, Italy, India, Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and Australia. The event had 200 of the emirate’s stakeholders, including 100 hoteliers, 60 tour operators, 20 airlines and 20 attraction delegates.
TCA Abu Dhabi’s chairman, His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan and director general, His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi charted out the strategies aimed at contributing to the destination’s 2013 industry target of 2.5 million hotel guests – up from last year’s record 2.3 million guests.
“There is an increased focus on the MICE and business events segments with additional dedicated staff devoted to this resilient sector,” added Mubarak Al Nuaimi, promotions and overseas offices director, TCA Abu Dhabi..
This year TCA Abu Dhabi will participate in 17 trade fairs in 13 countries – including, the first time in World Travel Market Latin America this April as it looks to build awareness of the destination. Also on the cards are eight road shows across 23 cities, including for the first time, road shows in USA, Korea and Azerbaijan. “The US road show will be heavily slanted to the MICE sector,” explained Al Nuaimi.
On the domestic front, TCA Abu Dhabi is targeting an 8% increase in hotel guest bookings from within the UAE with the launch of short break products, increased focus on MICE, incentives and meetings business.
“We are looking for just under a million hotel guests from within the emirate generating 2.5 million guest nights,” said Al Nuaimi. “We are also hoping to build domestic guests to 2.5 nights,” he added.
