ITB China News 2018 - Preview Edition

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
REGION
11
China is now the leading overseas visitor source market for Abu Dhabi, with the latest
figures revealing a year-to-date 32% increase in visitors from China compared to
2017. We asked Mubarak Al Nuaimi – Director Promotions and Overseas Offices – DCT
Abu Dhabi for more details.
In the first three months of
2018, 127,300 Chinese visited
the emirate, with March alone
(40,800) accounting for an
impressive 31.6% increase
compared to March 2017. The
Department is targeting 600,000
Chinese hotel guests a year by
2021. In 2017, we recorded an
increase of 60% in the number
of Chinese guests – a total of
372,000 – compared to 2016.
What attractions/activities
tend to be the most interesting
for Chinese visitors in Abu
Dhabi?
Emirate-wide we have been
focusing on bolstering the
culturally-enriching experiences
which allow us to distinguish
Abu Dhabi from other
destinations and we are acutely
aware our Chinese travellers
seek immersive cultural
experiences. The opening of the
Louvre Abu Dhabi in November
2017 serves to reinforce the
Emirate’s position as a cultural
destination. Additionally,
the emirate boasts soughtafter
attractions such as the
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
which is ranked as the world’s
second favourite landmark by
TripAdvisor. Also, Abu Dhabi
and its neighbouring regions Al
Dhafra and Al Ain offer visitors
the unique opportunity to
experience adventure activities
and get an in-depth experience
into the Emirati culture and
traditions with numerous
activities including falconry
shows, camel races, mangrove
tours, among many others. This
month we also announced the
opening of Warner Bros. World
on Yas Island, due to open in
July which will again add to our
attractions proposition.
What would you say are Abu
Dhabi’s key selling points for
Chinese visitors - setting the
destination apart from others
in the region - and in the
world?
As detailed above we can offer
a unique proposition in an
incredibly safe environment.
Several tourist attractions and
hotels across the emirate have
already received the China
Tourism Academy’s Welcome
Chinese Certification, awarded
to destinations offering high
quality services to Chinese
visitors, including Mandarinspeaking
staff, while recent
legislation now means Chinese
visitors do not need a visa
to visit Abu Dhabi, making
the process of staying in the
emirate even easier. Many
leading destinations and hotels
across Abu Dhabi also now
accept China Union Pay bank
cards making it easier for
Chinese tourists to stay and
travel. With a diverse range
of leisure and entertainment
options and plentiful supply
of high-quality hotels and
shopping malls, Abu Dhabi
will continue to position itself
as an attractive destination
for Chinese travellers. Moving
forward, we will continue to
promote Abu Dhabi’s unique
offerings focused on presenting
the best culturally-enriching
experiences to our Chinese
visitors who are seeking to
experience new cultures. We
have actively increased our
efforts to capture the awareness
of and convert Chinese travellers
to visit Abu Dhabi. The efforts
focused on lowering access
barriers to Chinese travellers
by preparing digital platforms,
including our website and
mobile application to fully
support Mandarin-speaking
users. We have formed
partnerships with the popular
technology companies Weibo,
Wechat and Baidu to help
DCT Abu Dhabi reach millions
of new potential Chinese
travellers. Chinese New Year
is always celebrated here with
festivals and promotions,
which tie-in with our excellent
shopping opportunities.
What are your “star” products
at ITB China?
DCT Abu Dhabi will be joined by
industry stakeholders including
government departments,
hotels, resorts, tourist
attractions, leisure facilities,
destination management
companies, travel and holiday
agents – all gathered to
showcase over tourism services
and products. Much emphasis
will be placed on highlighting
existing and new products
among the Emirate’s expanding
portfolio of attractions,
experiences and event across
the three areas of Abu Dhabi,
Al Ain region and Al Dhafra
region. The Abu Dhabi stand
will also boast specific zones
highlighting its diverse offerings
such as Cruise Tourism, Abu
Dhabi Convention Bureau, Qasr
Al Muwaiji, Louvre Abu Dhabi
and Emirati Experiences
STAND No. 520
Mubarak Al Nuaimi
Director Promotions and Overseas Offices,
DCT Abu Dhabi
China Now Leading Source
Market For Abu Dhabi Tourism
Exclusive Interview: Mubarak Al Nuaimi – Director
Promotions and Overseas Offices – DCT Abu Dhabi
WE HAVE FORMED
PARTNERSHIPS
WITH THE
POPULAR
TECHNOLOGY
COMPANIES
WEIBO, WECHAT
AND BAIDU TO
HELP DCT ABU
DHABI REACH
MILLIONS OF
NEW POTENTIAL
CHINESE
TRAVELLERS
ITB CHINA NEWS • Wednesday 9 th May 2018