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Over 120 travel agents and media were out in force at Berlin’s Grand Hyatt to hear an Abu Dhabi destination update by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and to dine with the emirate’s tourism industry stakeholders exhibiting at Germany’s major travel trade fair.
The gathering heard from Dayne Lim, ADTA’s Product Development Director of the growth in the emirate’s attractions, events and resorts – another five of which are due on line by the end of the year.
Lim also used the gathering to stress to German industry partners plans by the authority to mount a major activation of the UAE capital this New Year’s Eve to celebrate the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race crew in Abu Dhabi. The city is the host port for the third leg of the race when around a throng of overseas visitors, UAE and regional residents are expected in the capital to join in the celebrations.
Abu Dhabi stakeholders at ITB Berlin were on the receiving end of a uplift of interest in the destination prompted by publicity surrounding its major events, the opening of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and improved air access with 149 weekly flights from Europe now operating to Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Aspects of the destination are now being heavily tipped by leading German travel journalists including the Liwa Desert, recommended by CPM Publishing’s Jochen Mussig as “an essential place to visit delivering everything a traveller expects from a desert – fabulous skies, incredible dunes and an atmosphere that has not been replicated anywhere.”
DuMont’s Travel Guide is pushing Al Ain’s Oasis as one of its favourite traveller tips. “To see the greenery rise out of the desert after the drive to Al Ain is almost magical,” said DuMont’s Dr. Gerhard Heck.
Leading German travel agent D. A. Ferntouristik predicted a increase in bookings from the Federal Republic to Abu Dhabi, a route now served by both Etihad, the UAE national airline and Lufthansa German Airlines.
“There is no doubt that people are becoming more inquisitive about the destination and with more things to do and places to go, German travellers will follow,” said Alexander Sieland, the company’s Managing Director.
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