Abu Dhabi looks to capitalise on ATM involvement
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The UAE capital proudly displayed its biggest exhibition stand at ATM this year, with more than 45 Abu Dhabi tourism stakeholders filling a pavilion organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). “The product line-up reflects the destination’s expanded offering and includes transport suppliers, hotel operators, major attractions, hospitality management companies, travel agents, tour operators, an international sports resort, MSC Cruises, as well as desert, island, beach and golf resorts,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, international promotions manager for the ADTA.This year marked Abu Dhabi’s eighth appearance at ATM. Speaking exclusively to TDME at the event, Dayne Lim, ADTA’s product development director, said: “There’s lots coming up in the next 12 months in Abu Dhabi, including the Volvo Ocean Race in December – which we’re very excited about, not to mention lots of new destination hotels opening up.”Last year, the GCC, with the exception of the UAE, accounted for over 102,000 hotel guests in Abu Dhabi, which was a 19 percent rise on 2009. In the first two months of this year, the GCC market showed further signs of growth, delivering over 20,000 hotel guests – a 14 percent rise on the same period in 2010.Of these markets, Saudi Arabia is proving the most prolific. In 2010, some 38,633 hotel guests from the Kingdom were welcomed into Abu Dhabi hotels – a rise of 26 percent on the previous year. The trend has continued in the first two months of this year, with some 9645 Saudis staying in our hotels – a 61 percent rise on the same period in 2010.
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