Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi’s Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) is aiming to attract more visitors from India, with officials from the tourism body saying the Indian market holds huge potential as it experiences growth.
Saif Gobash, director general of the TCA, said the outbound Indian market was of paramount importance to Abu Dhabi as it is now the largest overseas source of hotel guests.
His remarks came during a welcome reception for 600 members of the Travel Agents Association of India, which is staging its 63rd annual convention this week in Abu Dhabi.
Business relations
During the reception, India’s travel agents were urged to seize the potential of Abu Dhabi’s tourism offerings to further boost their business relations with the emirate.
According to TCA’s data, 152,423 Indians checked into Abu Dhabi’s hotels during the first half of 2016 — a 20 per cent increase year-on-year. Indian guests accounted for seven per cent of all hotel stays in the emirate, with a longer-than-average stay of 3.4 nights.
Ghobash said that with three airlines now operating a total of over 300 flights a week to Abu Dhabi from 15 Indian cities, the emirate could be promoted to Indian tourists as a destination for a short break, a wedding celebration, or a convention.
