Abu Dhabi is looking to India, China and South America for tourism growth

Abu Dhabi tourism chiefs have announced its target markets for 2013 as it aims to build on record visitor levels this year.

Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said it plans to stage 19 road shows across eight nations next year.

In a statement, it added that it would be putting a “heavy emphasis” on the emerging CIS, Indian, China and South American markets.

The authority will lead a pavilion and delegation for the first time to the World Travel Market Latin America in Brazil next April just weeks ahead of June’s launch by Etihad Airways of a daily Sao Paolo-Abu Dhabi service – the first non-stop connection between Abu Dhabi and Latin America.

“Our aim at this particular show will be to spread destination awareness within the Brazilian market and forge a network of trade partners in this increasing important region,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, international promotions manager, TCA Abu Dhabi.

The authority also has plans to hold road shows across China, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Australia and India.

“Within India, the road show programme, next November, will take in five cities, including, for the first time, Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat state, from which Etihad this month will commence daily flights to Abu Dhabi,” added Al Nuaimi.

“This is totally aligned with our own promotional development strategy which foresees, early next year, an on-the-ground TCA Abu Dhabi representational office within India, which is now the destination’s second most productive international source market for hotel guests after the UK,” he said.

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