European tour operators boost Abu Dhabi coverage
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Tour operators in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have increased coverage of Abu Dhabi for 2010.A brochure audit carried out by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) revealed that 49% of all tour operators in Germany - one of Abu Dhabi’s key source markets – have expanded their coverage of the emirate. The operators added 194 Abu Dhabi hotel features to their print catalogues for 2010 - a rise of 25% on last year while an additional 177 hotel features have been included into online collateral - which is up by 51% on 2009.”This is an excellent result following an intensive year of expanded international promotions, marketing and inbound familiarisation trips,” said ADTA Director General Mubarak Al Muhairi. “The audit covered some of the biggest names in the business within German-speaking territories which remain among our key target markets.”Total Abu Dhabi product exposure within the German-speaking markets has increased by 20% on last year with the ADTA hoping it will serve to boost arrivals from Germany, in particular, which accounted for 59,670 hotel guests to the emirate in 2009.”Germany remains one of our top five source markets and the German-speaking countries will, we anticipate, play a key role in assisting us towards our 2010 target of boosting hotel guest arrivals by 10% on last year’s performance to reach 1.65 million,” said Al Muhairi. “The increased tour operator exposure mirrors extensive expansion of Abu Dhabi’s overall tourism offering with more hotels, attractions and infrastructure in place and more due on line.”This year, for instance, we expect to add another 5,000 hotel rooms to the emirate’s accommodation inventory. We will have two new championship-ready golf courses open by the end of Q1, will host more events than ever with the inclusion of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, Rally Abu Dhabi and the World Green Tourism Congress into the calendar and will have a major boost to our leisure proposition with the opening, later this year of Ferrari World on Yas Island.”The industry audit comes as the ADTA prepares to next month mount its largest ever pavilion at ITB Berlin - Germany’s leading travel fair - where 53 products from the emirate will be promoted in an Abu Dhabi pavilion which has grown by 10% on last year’s showing in supplier terms.
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