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Abu Dhabi To Open Destination Promotions Office In Russia |
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Abu Dhabi is to become the first overseas destination to have a visitor centre in Moscow when the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) opens its Russia office next month. News of the development is being outlined to the Russian travel trade at Leisure Moscow the country s leading travel exhibition - where Abu Dhabi has mounted a pavilion shared by 10 of its key stakeholders including Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates which operates a daily Moscow-Abu Dhabi service. "Russia has become an increasingly important market for us with Etihad bringing Russian tourists within just five hours flight time of Abu Dhabi," said Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA. "Russia is showing great promise for us with hotels in Abu Dhabi recording a 21 per cent increase in guests from the country in the first seven months of this year. We are now looking to capitalise on these green shoots of growth and will be mounting an intensive programme of inbound familiarisation trips for Russian travel trade and media. We are also embracing the Russian language across all of our marketing material and spearheading the recruitment and training of Russian-speaking tour guides to work in the emirate." Russian visitors are being targeted to assist Abu Dhabi, which this year was tipped by two of the world s leading travel guides - Frommer s and Lonely Planet - as a Top 10 destination to visit, achieve its 2011 and 2012 hotel guest goals which call for a 15 per cent yearly increase in hotel guests to reach 2.3 million guests staying in 24,000 rooms by 2012 end. "Our confidence hails from a significant rise in our leisure offering which will take a major step forward this October 28th when Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opens," said Al Muhairi. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world’s largest indoor theme park with the world s fastest roller-coaster, the Formula Rossa. The park is on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi s emerging entertainment destination. This island is home to Yas Marina Circuit, which annually hosts the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which will this year run from November 12-14, the spectacular Yas Marina, the 18-hole championship ready Yas Links golf course and five hotels including the iconic Yas Hotel. "Abu Dhabi has been known as a business destination but this is clearly changing the attractions which have come on line, and are coming on line, alter the dynamics. This is an international leisure destination in the making which will resonate well with Russian clients who are looking for new and luxurious experiences," said Al Muhairi. Abu Dhabi is well on track to attain its 2010 hotel guest target of 1.65 million having recorded a 16 per cent rise in performance in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2009. ADTA figures show some 1,074,293 guests stayed in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments from January-July. "We have seen double-digit monthly growth since last year November’s staging of the inaugural Grand Prix," explained Al Muhairi. "And with increased accommodation stock having changed market place dynamics, rates are now more competitive than at any time over the past five years." |
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