June 19, 2015 Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority

Destination Abu Dhabi Targets Goa as Emerging Outbound Gateway

Conducts ‘An Evening with Abu Dhabi’ with Etihad Airways & Jet Airways for Goa trade professionals.

Abu Dhabi is generating a high level of interest as a multi-faceted, unexplored and exotic destination for the upwardly-mobile aspirational Indian traveller. Continuing the high focus and emphasis on India as the destination’s leading outbound source market for hotel guests, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) recently organized Evening with Abu Dhabi in Goa.

TCA Abu Dhabi, along with Etihad Airways and Jet Airways, invited travel trade professionals in Goa over an evening of discovering the multi-faceted attractions of Abu Dhabi. The destination is now closer than ever for Indian travellers with Jet Airways commencing daily direct flights between Abu Dhabi – Goa.

The event saw a great response with prominent travel trade professionals coming for networking with the TCA Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways teams. There was a presentation followed by a lucky draw for the guests.

Abu Dhabi offers fresh and exotic attractions with a blend of both traditional and the modern. It is growing as a choice destination for leisure, special interest, destination weddings, honeymooners, niche travellers and also an increasing MICE movement. India is currently AbuDhabi’s leading overseas source market. Abu Dhabi welcomed 231,702 Indian hotel guests in 2014 at a growth rate of 32% over 2013. There were 850,443 guest nights in 2014, at a growth rate of 23% over 2013.

Reiterating the firm commitment to India market, Bejan Dinshaw, TCA Abu Dhabi Country Manager – India, said, “We are excited to market Abu Dhabi as a destination of choice for Goa. Abu Dhabi is closer than ever to India and especially Goa now with the daily direct flight connectivity. Goa is well-known as the home of the fun-loving, who enjoy life to the fullest. Abu Dhabi with its entertainment options, iconic properties, culture and heritage is the complete destination for a fresh holiday experience. We are very positive with the growth potential of this market.”

Commenting on this special evening, Raj Sivakumar, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, said, “Goa is an important tourist destination and an emerging market with one of the highest GDP per capita in the country, catering to Indian and international tourists alike. Jet Airways’ Goa – Abu Dhabi flight provides a direct convenient connection to Abu Dhabi and beyond to over 140 destinations in a seamless manner through Etihad Airways and other partner carriers. We expect a substantial growth of incoming tourist traffic in the coming months.”

UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways currently operates over 120 flights per week from 11 Indian destinations to Abu Dhabi. The Etihad-Jet Airways combine will together offer seamless connectivity with over 250 flights a week across 14 Indian cities by second quarter of 2015.

One of Abu Dhabi’s most iconic landmarks is the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, named by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards as the world’s second most sought after landmark. Emirates Palace – one of the world’s most opulent hotels – is a must-visit property for its sheer opulence and luxury quotient, at surprisingly affordable rates.

Abu Dhabi is also attracting arts and culture lovers with the fast developing Saadiyat Island Cultural District. With its sweeping beach, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and stunning beachfront resorts, Saadiyat Island will soon be home to a series of world-class cultural institutions. The Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu Dhabi will open this year, followed by the Zayed National Museum next year and the GuggenheimAbu Dhabi in 2017.

The Destination is also attracting a large number of business travellers through incentives and conferences. Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau’s ‘Advantage Abu Dhabi’ incentive programmes enable meetings planners with financial and on-ground assistance, provided they bring viable business events to the destination. Applications for Advantage Abu Dhabi can be made on the bureau’s website – www.abudhabi-cb.ae www.abudhabi-cb.ae – and should be aligned to 12 specific economic engine sectors identified in Abu Dhabi’s 2030 economic vision.