The agents were treated with traditional Arabian Hospitality at Hotel Inspections, Hosted Lunch / Dinner and Site Tours at various stunning properties, including Emirates Palace, Ritz Carlton, Fairmount, Intercontinental, St. Regis, Shangri La and Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.

The agents visited the Falcon Hospital, and tried their hand at the regal sport of falconry, which was a truly educative experience for them. They were spellbound with the serene and soulful environment of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, especially witnessing its grandeur under the evening lights. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi was another favorite for the thrilling rides and exhibitions, which they enjoyed thoroughly. They also enjoyed the visit to Marina Mall and Yas Mall, which took everyone by surprise, thanks to the area and sheer scale of construction. The agents were impressed by the technology and displays at the Etihad Innovation Centre.

Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager, India, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, “Abu Dhabi is ready and eager to welcome Indian outbound travellers in the summer season, with a number of activities and attractions planned to suit all interests and age groups. With this objective, select travel trade professionals, chosen from all around India, visited and experienced the very best that we have to offer. We have received a very positive response from the participants of the trip, which was both educative and enjoyable for them. We are confident that as a result of this FAM Trip, the trade can market Abu Dhabi as the preferred choice for an exotic holiday experience.”

Neerja Bhatia, Etihad Airways’ General Manager – India said, “Looking at the remarkable success of this familiarization trip, I am deeply honoured by the sentiments of all our trade partners who travelled to Abu Dhabi. Through our collaboration with TCA Abu Dhabi, we aimed to showcase our connectivity to Abu Dhabi and promote the destination. We look forward to conducting similar innovative and interesting activities in future.”

Experiencing a well-rounded destination with so much to offer to each travel segment, left the agents spellbound. Having first-hand experience of Abu Dhabi and noticing the attention to detail which is paid to make it a true destination of distinction, was much appreciated. From the glitzy to the rustic, modern and traditional, Abu Dhabi is well worth an extended visit to truly absorb the charms of this destination.

The post Indian Travel Trade Professionals Experience Destination Abu Dhabi appeared first on TnHGlobal.

Vieira, who is also the four-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion, and Al Ketbi took the opportunity to get to grips with fighting in Abu Dhabi by warming up for the championship, which runs until April 25 at the state-of-the-art IPIC Arena at Zayed Sports City, with an impromptu showdown at one of Abu Dhabi’s most iconic locations.

The two heavyweights of the Jiu-Jitsu world grappled at the luxurious St. Regis Nation Riviera Beach Club in Abu Dhabi, as they honed their skills ahead of the competition, with Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship mascot Azzam the falcon in close attention as the two superstars clashed.

The Championship, now in its landmark seventh year, will also feature a ‘Children’s Cup’ for younger fighters and is free to attend. For more information visit www.uaejjf.com

- ENDS -

ABOUT ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The authority manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The authority supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

The post JIU-JITSU MASTERS BATTLE ON THE BEACH appeared first on TnHGlobal.

The emirate offered the film’s producers an exciting backdrop with striking architecture, unique locations and stunning landscapes for the latest installment of the Fast & Furious franchise.

“The filming of Furious 7 in Abu Dhabi allowed us to highlight the emirate’s fantastic mixture of stunning natural scenery and incredible modern architecture, which will undoubtedly raise our international profile,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

“We were excited to host the cast and crew of Furious 7 in our home, and believe it was an excellent opportunity to showcase Abu Dhabi, introduce newcomers to our renowned hospitality and demonstrate the diversity of the destination.”

Filmed in April 2014, Furious 7 shows several iconic attractions across Abu Dhabi including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the luxurious Emirates Palace and Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotels, and Yas Marina Circuit – home to the annual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – in addition to the historic ‘Oasis City’ of Al Ain and the expansive and majestic Liwa Desert.

“We look forward to the world watching Abu Dhabi in Furious 7 and will work hard to entice viewers to visit us in person,” added Al Darmaki. “We hope the success of this movie and our efforts to attract major film companies such as Universal to our shores will be repeated. Abu Dhabi will continue to welcome filmmakers from around the world and extend all assistance for future projects.”

The seventh in the film series, the world premiere of Furious 7 took place at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Wednesday, April 1, followed by the release of the movie in theatres across the country on Friday, April 3.

“We are delighted to see Universal Pictures choosing the United Arab Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, as a location for their movie. It’s nice to see how the longstanding relationship between the UAE and the US has extended to world-class production, post-production facilities and use of Abu Dhabi’s unique locations, which only enhances the special relationship between the UAE and the US. We thank twofour54 for facilitating the filming of Fast and Furious 7,” said Consul General Abdulla A. Alsaboosi, Consul General of the Consulate of the UAE in Los Angeles.

Directed by James Wan and featuring an all-star cast including Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Lucas Black, Jason Statham and the late Paul Walker, Furious 7 follows the crew as they try to stop a terrorist seeking revenge for his brother’s death.

For more information about Abu Dhabi, please visit www.visitabudhabi.ae.

The post FURIOUS 7 TAKES ABU DHABI TO A ‘WHOLE OTHER LEVEL’ appeared first on TnHGlobal.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is hoping to inspire more travellers to experience Abu Dhabi’s expanding tourism products portfolio with a revamped visitabudhabi.ae website showcasing many of the emirate’s best experiences, hotels and restaurants.

The online facelift was revealed today at the Abu Dhabi pavilion at ITB Berlin, the largest travel trade show in the world.

Developed by TCA Abu Dhabi, the website’s new design includes around 300,000 words and 4,000 images in support of different products and experiences that can be enjoyed across a number of the most commonly requested information categories.

TCA Abu Dhabi Acting Executive Director, Marketing & Communications, Mouza Al Shamsi, said the website’s overhaul would help better connect the consumer with the emirate by providing ‘inspirational experiences’ which consumers could enjoy and book.

We constantly strive to make our digital marketing platforms engaging and informative, and with these latest improvements, have now become much more responsive to our customers.

With this new site we can now showcase the destination through thematic experiences that reflect our diversity in landscape, culture, heritage, attractions and accommodation referring consumers directly to our industry partners. From the outset, the brief was to make the site more inspiring and visually appealing, and capitalise on the latest trends in digital engagement, she said.

The exciting new online look, incorporating a mobile-friendly, responsive design also features the latest user interface techniques, and TripAdvisor reviews are embedded to attraction and hotel listings information to reflect user generated content allowing users to share impartial advice on the site.

A new Mash-up map – a single graphical interface that uses content from more than one source to create a single information reference – collates nearby points of interests, hotels, restaurants and attractions, spas and events allowing users to learn and experience more when visiting or researching things to see and do.

The new information architecture highlighting what to see and do, where to stay and how to explore the emirate has been rolled out in nine language versions (Arabic, English, Brazilian-Portuguese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian) and also features a social media wall linking directly to the Authority’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest and Foursquare).

The website’s multilingual hotel, flight and car rental search engine with real-time results from multiple booking engines remains, along with its trip planner facility which allows travellers to plan their journey to Abu Dhabi in advance, and share their itinerary ideas with their friends.

An Arabic phrasebook, downloadable guides & maps, currency converter, weather forecast and detailed Frequently Asked Questions sections rounds off the new and exciting features, all of which will be on display at the ITB Berlin Abu Dhabi pavilion in an interactive iPad-based competition and ‘cloud-biking’ experiential booth, just one of 90 product experiences participating at the exhibition.

Reaching over four million visits a year and more than 40,000 daily clicks during peak periods, further planned visitor experience enhancements include responsive language version landing page interfaces and improvements to the existing visitabudhabi.ae mobile applications on all key platforms.

Conceived with travellers’ needs in mind, VisitAbuDhabi.ae is a one-stop-shop for tourists who want to explore the emirate, giving them easy access to interact with extensive, dynamic information on Abu Dhabi’s attractions and experiences, culture and heritage, events and recreation activities.

Supported by a comprehensive on- and offline mobile application featuring location-based functionality and detailed attraction, listings and experience information, visitabudhabi.ae is one of a number of informative websites operated by TCA Abu Dhabi, which include AbuDhabiEvents.ae – the authoritative online resource bringing together all event happenings in the emirate, and AbuDhabi-cb.ae, a portal for the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau.

Dedicated social media accounts support the destination’s sites and encourage travellers to become active contributors, to post, comment, get inspired and share their experience, promoting the use of #InAbuDhabi throughout all digital destination promotion.

Stay in touch with the latest information on Abu Dhabi at:

visitabudhabi.ae

facebook.com/visitabudhabi

twitter.com/visitabudhabi
gplus.to/visitabudhabi
youtube.com/visitabudhabi
pinterest.com/visitabudhabi
foursquare.com/visitabudhabi
instagram.com/visitabudhabi

The post IMPROVED DESTINATION WEBSITE SET TO INSPIRE MORE VISITS TO ABU DHABI appeared first on TnHGlobal.

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Food Festival got off to a sizzling start at the weekend with thousands more visitors than expected flocking to Abu Dhabi’s Corniche to enjoy the local culture, cuisine, demonstrations and master classes at the Emirati Kitchen event.

The three-day celebration of Emirati food, starring local and international chefs, attracted more than 14,000 visitors, vastly exceeding the expectations of organisers.

The weekend also saw Street Feast – another event incorporated into the Abu Dhabi Food Festival –delight food fans in Madinat Zayed in the Western Region. A caravan of international and local food trucks served a wide array of dishes from around the world to more than a thousand visitors and now arrives to Al Jahili Park in Al Ain this weekend, before heading to Abu Dhabi Corniche on the 19th to 21st February.

Emirati celebrity chef Khulood Atiq, a cuisine consultant for Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is organising the festival, said: “This was the first time that we have held Emirati Kitchen and it was very well received with an excellent turn out. I had people from as far away as Brazil and New Zealand attending the master classes and trying Emirati cuisine for the first time.

“It is important that we demonstrate and show people our customs and traditions and food is a vital part our culture. I really hope people go home and learn to cook traditional Emirati dishes and enjoy the diversity of our food. Next year we will be back and making it even bigger and better.”

Next week sees the return of Gourmet Abu Dhabi – a 10-day celebration of food taking place across some of Abu Dhabi’s best hotels and restaurants – which is also part of the food festival.

“It is important for overseas visitors to have the opportunity to learn more about the traditions of Arabian hospitality, and there is no better means than by hands-on experiences such as this which bring many aspects together,” said Briton Simon Baker, a first time visitor to the Emirate.

“Cooking a traditional dish under the guidance of a local chef in one of the Emirati Kitchen master class sessions has given me a taste of what else I can look forward to when eating out across the emirate during my stay.”

Abu Dhabi Food Festival runs until February 21. For more information see www.abudhabievents.ae

-ENDS-
ABOUT ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The authority manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The authority supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.
For more information please contact:
Pukhraj Varshneya
PR and Brand Executive
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
India
Tel: +91 11 23737348, +91 9810871469 Fax: +91 11 23350270
Email: PVarshneya@tcaabudhabi.ae

The post A TASTE OF TRADITION appeared first on TnHGlobal.

The extensive programme will celebrate the UAE’s tangible and intangible culture

Held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the annual Qasr Al Hosn Festival will take place in Abu Dhabi city from February 11th to 21st 2015. The festival will enthral visitors with an innovative public programme dedicated to honouring the UAE’s rich culture and history.

Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, the festival celebrates the traditions and culture of Abu Dhabi. His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, said: “Qasr Al Hosn is truly the heart of Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene and one of the structures that represents rich Emirati history. The aim behind the Festival is to engage with the community and give the public rare access to the fort during its restoration and to collectively appreciate centuries of Emirati culture which has shaped the UAE of today.”

“Through Qasr Al Hosn festival, we appreciate the efforts of our ancestors by passing down centuries of information to those visiting from across the UAE and abroad. The fort has been the source of inspiration for so many, and through the festival, we hope to strengthen appreciation of Emirati culture and identity, and harvest pride and honour for all those who take part,” added Sheikh Sultan.

The Qasr Al Hosn fort is the symbolic birthplace of the capital of the UAE and had for generations housed its ruling family, Al Nahyan, as the city developed over the years. Today, the fort represents centuries of Emirati history and culture, and the festival is held annually to celebrate the UAE and its identity, and to honour the UAE’s founders and their visionary leadership.

Held on the grounds of Qasr Al Hosn, the 2015 festival edition will shed light on the fort’s conservation process and its former functions, and will give visitors access to the inner fort, as well as the National Consultative Council Chamber. The public will have access to areas of the fort that have never before been open to the public, such as the living quarters. Mediation and interpretation tools will be used across the fort areas to facilitate the visit and to explain the conservation techniques. In addition to the organised tour, a Qasr Al Hosn exhibition will be launched during the festival and will narrate the significance of the fort and its historical context.

Besides the fort, the Cultural Foundation will also be open to the public. A comprehensive public programme including exhibitions, activities and installations will highlight the building’s significance as a landmark of Abu Dhabi’s modern heritage and will introduce the process of conserving modern heritage while also reviving the spirit of the place.

The programme will continue to celebrate the collective memory of the place and revive the important moments that took place in the Cultural Foundation and that have been intrinsic to the development of Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene.

The programme will include the homecoming of the National Pavilion, United Arab Emirates’ exhibition from the 14th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale Di Venezia. It will also feature: “Lest We Forget: Structures of Memory in the UAE”, a music programme themed around the UAE intangible heritage; specially-commissioned artworks by Emirati artists; the cultural experience exhibition “Gahwa” that celebrates the Emirati tradition of the Gahwa rituals in a modern interpretive experience; and, the participation of non-profit community organisations to promote their initiatives focused on UAE culture and heritage.

The Cultural Foundation was completed in the early 1980s to address the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s wish to foster cultural awareness and cultural exchange. Today, it still stands as one of the most successful examples in Abu Dhabi of Modern and Islamic architecture both in terms of fundamental design principles and aesthetic details.

The Festival will also include a lively hub of visual and performing arts programmes, traditional workshops, cultural and interactive learning experiences led by professional curators, artisans and experts.

The Qasr Al Hosn festival will continue to play the important role of accompanying the conservation process of Qasr Al Hosn and opening once a year the door of this important Abu Dhabi landmark to engage with the community and keep them part of the capital’s cultural development initiatives.

-ENDS-

ABOUT ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The authority manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The authority supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

For more information please contact:
Pukhraj Varshneya
PR and Brand Executive
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
India
Tel: +91 11 23737348, +91 9810871469 Fax: +91 11 23350270

The post Qasr Al Hosn Festival to Celebrate Emirati Culture and History in February 2015 appeared first on TnHGlobal.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) – the emirate’s entry in the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) – has safely rounded ocean racing’s most treacherous landmark – Cape Horn at the southern tip of Chile. The team is currently in second place, 12 days and 4,500 nautical miles after leaving New Zealand on Leg 5 of the round-the-world race.

‘The Horn’, as it is most commonly known, is located on Hornos Island – a remote and rocky outcrop in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago – completely exposed to the Southern Ocean storms that rage around the bottom of the world.

Conditions were characteristically ferocious when the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority-backed yacht Azzam rounded at 14:22 UTC on Monday, March 30. A Southern Ocean frontal weather system packing 25 – 30 knot winds and driving up huge waves meant a white-knuckle ride as Azzam tore across the dividing line between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at speeds consistently over 25 knots, just behind Leg leaders Team Alvimedica.

According to Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker, safely passing Cape Horn without injuries or damage was paramount to the team’s position at this stage of the leg.

“Cape Horn more than lived up to its reputation,” Walker said. “We have been sailing on the edge for the last 500. The waves are so big you can’t go around them so you have to go through them and the water down here is five degrees Celsius. It’s a relief to have got around in one piece.”

The same cannot be said for one of ADOR’s main rivals, Dongfeng Race Team, who broke its mast early on Monday in the final hours of the night, 240 nautical miles west of Cape Horn. Fortunately no-one was hurt, and the boat is heading towards Ushuaia, Argentina, under its own sail.

The incident only underlines the dangers the crews face in the Southern Ocean, but with the Horn safely negotiated ADOR, currently the overall leader in the nine-leg, 39,000-mile race, is looking to consolidate this position with another strong finish in Itajai.

“We knew how important it was to get around the Horn in touch with the pack, unscathed and in a position to challenge for the leg win in the final 2,000 miles,” Walker said. “We kept reminding ourselves – you can’t win the Volvo Ocean Race on this leg, but you can lose it.”

“We have had plenty of hairy moments on the way from Auckland and even the odd wipeout but we have no injuries and the yacht and sails are in good shape for the final push.”

ADOR navigator Simon Fisher – making his second ‘Horn’ rounding – said the fearsome history of Cape Horn was impossible to ignore, and made rounding it, particularly in such extreme conditions, a major milestone for any ocean racer.

“It’s a rounding that’s steeped in history,” Fisher said. “The Clipper ships racing to deliver tea used this route and like us they would have been roaring along at 20-knots and just itching for the chance to turn left at the Horn.”

“The waves are simply massive down here. It’s great to have come through the Southern Ocean and after Cape Horn it all starts to get better.”

Remarkably, after 12 days of racing fewer than 20-miles separated the leading pack of identical VO65 one-design yachts at Cape Horn. For Justin Slattery, who now has five Horn roundings under his belt, this has been the closest Southern Ocean racing he has ever experienced.

“Rounding Cape Horn is a huge milestone in professional sailor’s career and the significance doesn’t ever diminish,” Slattery. “This is one I will particularly remember – having this many boats charging around the Horn so close after a week and half of racing is just mind-blowing.”

Slattery’s partner in the two-man ADOR bow team, VOR rookie Luke Parkinson, said rounding Cape Horn had been on his personal ‘Bucket List’ since he first heard of the Volvo Ocean Race from his dad when he was a kid.

“I have dreamed of taking part since then and I especially imagined racing through the Southern Ocean and rounding Cape Horn for the first time. It’s been on my Bucket List for a long time so it’s very satisfying to make it come true. We did it in style too – flat out in big seas and strong winds.”

However significant a milestone passing Cape Horn might be, the Abu Dhabi crew must now focus on the Leg 5 finish in Itajaí, another 2,000 miles north. Trimmer Phil Harmer knows this is no time to relax. In the last edition of the race as part of the Groupama crew, Harmer led comfortably around Cape Horn but was dismasted 1,000 miles from the finish. Groupama eventually limped home in third position after stopping in Punta del Este, Uruguay to jury rig a temporary mast out of the wreckage of the old one.

“You can never relax on this leg,” Harmer said. “Last race we thought we had done the hard part,” Harmer recalled. “Then one big wave and the mast came tumbling down. We have been keeping a close eye on everything onboard and we will continue to do so. We may have broken the back of this leg but 2,000 miles is still a lot of ocean to race and with everyone so close we need to have out wits about us.”

Azzam skipper Walker summed up the mood of the ADOR sailors as they summoned up the strength to make the final push to Brazil.

“We will celebrate the Horn rounding properly in Brazil,” he said. “Right now for us it’s business as usual, we have a leg to win and the watches continue as normal and we keep doing everything we can to get to Itajaí ahead of the rest of them.”

Current estimates have the leading yachts reaching the Leg 5 finish in Itajaí on April 6. ADOR fans can follow the team’s progress via the race tracker at volvooceanrace.com.

The post Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Storms Around Cape Horn in Second appeared first on TnHGlobal.

Swaati Chaudhury
For Indians who are big on outbound travel, Abu Dhabi is an unexplored, high-end and affordable tourist destination in the Emirates. It comprises 200 islands and is an hour drive from Dubai with residents having the highest per capita income. With Etihad Airways taking off from Kolkata Airport sometime on February 15, this year, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) made its premier foray into Kolkata to target Bengal travellers and offer a big boost to outbound travel in the eastern region.

There are a plethora of pleasant surprises in store for Indian tourists on a visit to Abu Dhabi. There is Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the world’s largest mosque with the largest carpet in the world. Yas Shopping Mall figures as the largest mall in the Gulf region.

Yas Island has emerged as an entertainment hub and Saadiyat Island is the cultural district. Add to these, there is Ferari World Abu Dhabi best known as the only Ferari-branded theme park in the world.

Bejan Dinshaw, Country Head, Abu Dhabi TCA said, “India is the largest source market for Abu Dhabi. We have a lot of corporate incentives for business tourists flying down to Abu Dhabi replete with leading convention centres. The average stay for Indians is five days-four nights and with the introduction of electronic visas, it is quite easy to procure visas for Abu Dhabi. The destination offers value-for money attractions. Golf is the new fascination for Indian travellers and for golfers; Abu Dhabi provides the new experience that they would like to have. Golf excursions are in demand among high-end Indian tourists who visit in groups.” Dinshaw further said that the destination has three golf courses with hotels attached to it.

Abu Dhabi will soon get world-famous museums like the Louvre, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Museum on Saadiyat Island. It fares high as a wedding destination. Dinshaw added, “There were 12 weddings in Abu Dhabi from the eastern states last year. The leading Indian travellers are leisure, corporate, corporate incentives and honeymooners.”

Kolkata is only four hours from Abu Dhabi by flight and with Etihad Airways flying down to Kolkata, there will be stopover facility in Abu Dhabi with all US immigration and customs formalities done for Kolkata flyers going to the United States. “We are expecting a sound increase in tourist traffic from Kolkata. Etihad- Jet Airlines alliance will operate 200 weekly flights from 14 cities of India including Lucknow and Pune by the year end. We have recorded 32 per cent rise in Indian tourist footfall year-on-year basis,” further added Dinshaw.

Snapshot
Global tourist attractions of Abu Dhabi:
· Louvre Abu Dhabi to open later in 2015.
· Zayed National Museum will open in 2016.
·Guggenheim will come up in 2017.
·Three world-famous golf courses.

Blurb:

“Golf is the new fascination for Indian travellers and for golfers;

Abu Dhabi provides the new experience that they would like to have,”

Bejan Dinshaw, Country Head, Abu Dhabi TCA.

The post Abu Dhabi rides high with global tourist attractions appeared first on TnHGlobal.

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.

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Abu Dhabi is home to renowned global events throughout the year. A wide range of activities are on offer for all age groups to enjoy. India is currently Abu Dhabi’s leading overseas source market for hotel guests. 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.

“Abu Dhabi offers both traditional and modern attractions. The key segments are leisure, special interest, destination wedding and honeymoon, niche travellers and MICE. We are attracting a large number of incentive and conferences business travellers with our Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau’s Advantage Abu Dhabi incentive programmes – where meetings planners can get help, financial and other, if the bring viable business events to the destination. Applications for Advantage Abu Dhabi can be made on the bureau’s website – www.abudhabi-cb.ae – and should be aligned to 12 specific economic engine sectors identified in Abu Dhabi’s 2030 economic vision,” said Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager, India, TCA Abu Dhabi.

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.

“With a vast range of attractions for the whole family, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island is becoming increasingly popular with Indian travellers as a complete entertainment destination. There are multiple attractions, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s only Ferrari-branded theme park with more than 20 rides and the world’s fastest rollercoaster, Formula Rossa, reaching speeds up to 240kmph! F1 fans can have a thrilling experience with the state-of-the-art F1 track at Yas Marina Circuit, where petrol heads can drive a Formula Yas 3000 or Aston Martin GT4 around the same circuit as the pros. Yas Waterworld – featuring 43 rides, slides and attractions spanning a sprawling 15-hectares – is an award-winning water park and there’s Yas Links, a championship-level 18 holes Links course, which was voted among the world’s top 25 courses, outside of the US,” said Dinshaw.

The long-awaited Yas Mall is now open. It has more than 370 stores and is only five minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, 15 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi. More than just a shopping destination, Yas Mall will provide its visitors with a wide range of shopping, dining and entertainment offerings within an exceptionally vibrant shopping environment – and don’t forget Abu Dhabi’s shopping is tax-free. Yas Mall also has a direct link to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, opening up a range of exhilarating entertainment options.

“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 Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2017,” said Dinshaw.

TCA Abu Dhabi capped off a very successful year 2014 with a number of activities promoting the destination. There were travel trade workshops in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. We have also conducted similar workshops in the beginning of 2015 in Chandigarh, Lucknow and Kolkata. We are continuing the endeavor for a greater networking with the popular Evening with Abu Dhabi, which have taken place in Goa and Pune most recently.

“We also received a favorable response in the B2B fairs that we participated during 2014-15. We are undertaking joint destination familiarization trips and marketing initiatives with our national carrier Etihad Airways. Our primary focus for all marketing activities is to project Abu Dhabi as a unique destination with attractions and opportunities to indulge in and enjoy with the whole family,” Dinshaw informed.

“Our target is to endeavor to continue our current growth performance with a sustained rise in the number of hotel guests from India staying in Abu Dhabi. We hope to leverage on the emirate’s increasing ease of air access – with more flights than ever from a variety of Indian gateways – as well as affordability with value through a highly competitive average room rate which now stands at AED348 – or just US $95,” he added.

Abu Dhabi today is closer than ever with a huge choice of flights and customized packages. The multi award-winning national airline of the UAE – Etihad Airways – along with its partners are expanding routes and provide convenient and quick travel options across tier-1 and tier-2 cities all over India.

Currently Etihad operates over 120 flights per week from 11 Indian destinations to Abu Dhabi. Etihad also has a code-share agreement with Indian carrier Jet Airways, servicing a total of 71 routes. Jet Airways has begun daily direct services to Abu Dhabi, Pune, Ahmedabad and Mangalore recently. The Etihad-Jet combine will together offer seamless connectivity with over 250 flights a week across 14 Indian cities by second quarter of 2015.

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