Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is to begin 2013 with a five-city road show taking in key cities in India as it looks to build inbound tourism from the Republic, which is now the emirate’s second largest international hotel guest source market.

The authority, together with its trade partner Lama Tours, will lead a 12-member industry delegation representing its attractions, hotels and airline sectors in a five-day whistle-stop promotion taking in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai from 7-11 January.

"This is the first time we have included Ahmedabad and this is to leverage the recent launch, by Etihad Airways, of a daily flight from this largest Gujarat city to Abu Dhabi," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, International Promotions Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi.

"Improving air access is key to the Indian market and now with Abu Dhabi receiving 124 flights a week from the country, we have capacity to leverage," said Al Nuaimi. "We also have major events which will appeal to the Indian market most notably January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and February’s Gourmet Abu Dhabi culinary festival.

"So far we have taken the pulse of the Indian market by taking part in exhibitions and road shows - now we are upping the stakes with a plan for full-time, on-the-ground representation and increasing in-country promotions, which will include being present at India’s main travel fair, SATTE, next month," added Al Nuaimi.

From January to the end of November this year some 125,180 Indian guests stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments - a 30% increase on the first 11 months of last year - and they accounted for 496,581 guest nights, which is a 34% rise on the 2011 comparative period. Indian guests are staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels for an average of 3.97 nights.

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