Arabian Adventures looks to Asia for growth
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Dubai-based Arabian Adventures is setting its sights on key Asian source markets as the Destination Management Company (DMC) looks to further expansion.
The firm’s Senior Vice President, Frederic Bardin, told Travel Daily Asia that China, Australia and Japan were key targets going forward with the latter offering particular potential given that Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways were all boosting their services to hubs such as Tokyo.
“We still have a tiny percentage of the Japanese market, which is one of the biggest outbound markets in the world - around 16 to 17 million at present and if it wasn’t for the recession, 20 million,” said Bardin.
The firm currently has offices in both China and Japan and is planning more marketing activity in these markets soon.
Bardin also cited South America as a growth market for Dubai going forward given the success of Emirates Airline’s Sao Paulo route, which was already driving significant business to the firm.
“I expect a similar result when Emirates starts flying to Madrid,” he added.
Bardin was speaking after Arabian Adventures announced it had opened a mega operations centre in Dubai occupying 2.4 hectares.
He said this facility would “easily” cater to at least 15 years of growth for the operator.
“This is all part of our forward planning,” said Bardin. “Plus it’s ideally located - five minutes from the new Al Maktoum airport, 30 minutes from the existing airport, close to Jebel Ali, and sandwiched between Emirates Road and the new Dubai by-pass road - near the old route to Hatta.”
He said the new centre would accommodate a five-fold growth in Arabian Adventures’ fleet of vehicles including coaches, medium-sized buses, mini buses, private cars, four-wheel-drives and luggage trolleys.
It also comprises a massive warehouse; spacious office area; staff briefing, training and meeting rooms; a five-storey car park for 400 cars; inspection bays; and vehicle washing areas. It also provides ancillary staff amenities such as male and female prayer rooms, a cafeteria as well as showers and restrooms for drivers.
“There are also lockers and showers for guests in transit who might have breaks between a tour in the morning and another in the afternoon,” added Bardin
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