Abu Dhabi to Welcome 600,000 Chinese Visitors by 2021
Abu Dhabi, UAE; 7 November 2016 – Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is preparing to welcome 600,000 Chinese visitors to the emirate by 2021, tapping into the potential of a major market that promises significant future growth prospects.
HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of TCA Abu Dhabi, explained that China is a major international source market for the tourism sector, as hotels in Abu Dhabi welcomed 163,935 Chinese guests during the first three quarters of 2016.
“We seek to keep pace with the increasing demand foroverseas vacations in the Chinese market by providing highly tailored programmes that cater to the needs of Chinese travellers, while taking into account the market’s distinctive characteristics and focusing on recreational and cultural tourism as well as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) tourism. We recently visited China with our partners at Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, and Miral Asset Management LLC, with the aim of bolstering the sales of holiday and tourism programmes to Abu Dhabi. Our delegation met with the nation’s major travel agenciesand overseas tour organisers to discuss strategies for boosting Chinese tourism to Abu Dhabi, as well as to gain insight into the market’s current trends,” Ghobash said.
TCA Director General added that several tourist attractions and hotels in Abu Dhabi received the China Tourism Academy’s Welcome Chinese Certification, awarded to distinguished hospitality establishments and destinations that offer high quality services to Chinese visitors, including Mandarin-speaking staff members.
“Meeting the standards of China Tourism Academy reflects the confidence we have in the quality and diversity of our tourism offerings. It also encourages Chinese visitors to stay longer in Abu Dhabi, paving the road for us to increase our share in this promising market,” added HE Saif Ghobash.
Most destinations and attractions in the emirate, including Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, Yas Waterworld, Al Ain’s Wadi Adventure, Zayed Sports City and Souk Qaryat Al Beri, as well as all of Yas Island’s entertainment destinations and hotels accept China Union Pay bank cards.
TCA Abu Dhabi operates an office in China as a means of communicating directly with the country’s tourism and travel sectors, ensuring that Abu Dhabi is included in programmes they offer to their clients. The office also conveys the emirate’s tourism destination message to the Chinese media, studying market trends while developing tailored packages and programmes. TCA Abu Dhabi regularly hosts prominent Chinese travel industry and tourism media representatives on familiarisation trips across Abu Dhabi to highlight its touristic offerings, culture, heritage and future tourism development plans, as well as to explore different methods of cooperation to attract more Chinese visitors to the emirate.
TCA Abu Dhabi also delivers extensive marketing campaigns across Chinese media outlets, produces promotional films and produces promotional material geared specifically to Chinese travellers. Abu Dhabi’s official destination website visitabudhabi.ae is also available in Mandarin.
The increased initiative to attract visitors from China has gained momentum following the United Arab Emirates’ government new law that offers Chinese visitors a visa on arrival to Abu Dhabi International Airport, as well the efforts to develop a wide range of products and packages that meet expectations for Chinese travellers.
- ENDS -
ABOUT ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) 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 drives 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. TCA Abu Dhabi supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.