TCA Abu Dhabi looks to build India momentum

With India producing 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 roadshow. The event is aimed at keeping the destination foremost in the country’s outbound influencers’ mindset.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) along with its stakeholders will conduct the five-city roadshow. The event is scheduled to take place from 25-29 August across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi.

As per cent statistics, the first six months of 2014 witnessed 107,995 Indian guests check into Abu Dhabi’s hotels and resorts. This represented 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 average-length-of-stay being 3.79 nights.

Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director, promotions and overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi said: “Air connectivity will be boosted further this February when Etihad launches daily flights from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi. We anticipate further consumer interest coming for the destination with planned release this October of the Bollywood movie – Bang Bang – parts of which were shot in Abu Dhabi. We also expect our profile in India to rise with the opening shortly of the Sanjeev Kapoor ‘Signature’ restaurant in the Nation Towers on Abu Dhabi Corniche.”

Currently Etihad Airways operates 112 flights per week from 10 Indian destinations to Abu Dhabi International. The market size was further evaluated by St Regis Abu Dhabi who reported that the market already accounts for 15% of its leisure business. Indian weddings are also being actively pursued by Abu Dhabi stakeholders. Al Diar Hotels, which operates a number of budget properties in Abu Dhabi, says its Indian business is up 30% this year and has now dedicated a sales person specifically for the market.