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German speaking markets are turning the corner in interest in Abu Dhabi’s tourism product with the destination’s pavilion at ITB receiving a steady stream of trade enquiries.
The pavilion, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) with over 20 sharing partners, is showcasing a destination with a product range which has expanded exponentially in the last 12 months with more additions in the pipeline.
"I have received two enquiries from major German corporates who are looking to stage incentive tournaments at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club staying at the new Westin next year," said Klaus Niefer, General Manager, The Westin Hotel & Spa Abu Dhabi which will open next to Abu Dhabi Golf Club later this year.
Niefer later gave the UAE Ambassador to Germany Mohammed Al Mahmoud a briefing on the new property which is being developed by Tourism Development ’&’ Investment Company (TDIC).
ADTA is reporting an upturn in awareness of the destination following the success last year of Sebastian Vettel in winning the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and January’s success of Martin Kaymer in lifting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Champion title for the third time.
"Abu Dhabi was hardly out of the press when these two Germans won these titles and awareness really took off," said ADTA’s Frank Mullauer. "This combined with a major expansion in the product line-up is really capturing industry attention".
ADTA figures just out show a six percent increase in the number of tour operators throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria now featuring Abu Dhabi in their offerings - now rising to 176. The number of catalogue pages in the German speaking markets devoted to Abu Dhabi has risen 22 percent to 427. The number of Abu Dhabi hotels being featured by German speaking tour operators has gone up 28 percent to 579 in print and 38 percent online to 1,365 sites.
In January this year, according to ADTA figures, the number of German guests staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels rose 26 percent on January 2010, accounting for 5,596 guests.
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