Abu Dhabi reaches out to India with roadshow

Representatives from hotels in Abu Dhabi are among a 14-strong delegation embarking on a five-city roadshow in India to foster tourism from the country.

Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the group includes representatives from Etihad Airways, Yas Island, hotels, tour operators and attractions. Between August 25-29 they are visiting Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi.

They are looking to build on the momentum in terms of visitor numbers from India; in the first six months of this year, 107,995 Indian guests checked into Abu Dhabi’s hotels and resorts, up 35% on the same period last year.

These 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, Director, TCA Abu Dhabi promotions and overseas offices director Mubarak Al Nuaimi.

"This will be boosted further this February when Etihad launches daily flights from the West Bengal capital of Kolkata to Abu Dhabi."

He added that he expected the opening of Sanjeev Kapoor's ‘Signature’ restaurant in the Nation Towers on Abu Dhabi Corniche to generate more interest in India, as well as the release in October if the Bollywood movie Bang Bang, parts of which were shot in the emirate.

The Abu Dhabi stakeholders are also actively pursuing Indian weddings; the Yas Viceroy says it has successfully handled three large-scale Indian weddings over the past few years.