Australia’s top tour operators have been on a familiarisation trip to Abu Dhabi, in an effort by the emirate to increase tourism from the Southern hemisphere.
More than a 100 agents, from retail travel agencies Australia-wide, were all top sellers of The Travel Corporation’s iconic travel brands, including Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations and Creative Holidays, as well as Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia, which jointly arranged the mega familiarisation with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
The trip included tours of many of the emirate’s top leisure products, leading Owen Torpy from Yarra Valley Travel in Victoria, to state it had been a “big eye opener”.
“The extent of things to do and quality of the facilities we’ve seen – the hotels, the infrastructure, roads, the wonderful relaxed attitude the local people have for the tourists – it’s really quite staggering,” he said.
“The visit has been positive and added to my knowledge of the destination. I am confident that my clients will have a great time in Abu Dhabi and be warmly welcomed as I’ve been pretty much blown away by the fact that everyone is so enthusiastic that we’ve come here.”
The group stayed at a range of hotels including the five-star, beachfront Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Le Méridien Hotel Abu Dhabi, Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi.
Over the three days they visited the UAE capital’s Corniche, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Mina Zayed date and fish markets, Heritage Village, Falcon Hospital and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor theme park with the world’s fastest roller-coaster.
Increased air links between Australia and Abu Dhabi have increased the number of Australians staying in the emirate, with Etihad Airways currently operating 28 flights a week from Australia, with departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and Virgin Australia operating three flights a week from Sydney.
Last year saw a 5% increase in Australians staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments over 2011, resulting in 36,659 guests accounting for 118,289 room nights – figures Creative Holidays’ National Events and Programmes Manager, Belinda Herbert, believes could increase after the trip.
“Our objective is for the agents to experience the destination and take away their own personal highlights to help sell our Abu Dhabi product. The wide range of leisure experiences from the city to desert, Ferrari World and Yas Viceroy have been highlights for many, but exposure to the wide range of activities and attractions will help us grow the importance of the destination within our portfolio,” she said.
