10 SPECIAL FEATURE
10 SPECIAL FEATURE HONEYMOONS A (VERY) COOL IDEA FOR A HONEYMOON! What could be more romantic than gazing hand in hand at the Northern Lights in Finland? Situated 250 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Kakslauttanen is a favourite for honeymooners. And while it’s “far from it all”, it is also easy to reach, as the nearest international airport is Ivalo, just a 30-minute ride away. Finnair and Norwegian fly regularly from Helsinki to Ivalo. Lufthansa also flies from Frankfurt. Airport transfers can be booked at the same time one books rooms. Kakslauttanen are worldrenowned for their iconic Glass Igloos and the magical Northern Lights, visible eight months a year. The resort offers numerous unique arctic excursions – from reindeer and husky adventures to meeting Santa or panning for gold – making one’s stay truly unforgettable. Visitors are surrounded by some of the cleanest nature in the world and the harmonious sound of silence soothes the soul STAND No. 500 A New Look for Robinson Club Maldives Huvadhu The Club Maldives Huvadhu has been extended to 20 new exclusive water bungalows. In addition, all terraces of the existing bungalows have been renovated, the floors have been completely renewed and the interior design has been freshened-up. A beautiful island in the middle of the Indian ocean, with amazing blue seas, and white beaches are the perfect ingredients for a wedding or honeymoon. The happy couple will experience an unforgettable holiday snorkelling on the coral reef, participating in a Body & Mind course on one of the gorgeous beaches, or indulging in fine cuisine. The resort’s main focus is on “FeelGood”: enjoyment for enjoyment’s sake – with delicious “WellFood” in their specialty restaurant or with live cooking, accompanied by refreshing drinks: a wonderful opportunity to recharge one’s batteries and take a time out with yoga, live music and sundowner events STAND No. 332 Facelift for PARKROYAL Penang The Malaysian tropical paradise island of Penang has long been a key honeymoon destination, and discerning travellers will be pleased to learn that the highly renowned PARKROYAL Penang Resort has just undergone a US.7m transformation. Located on Penang’s famous Batu Ferringhi beach since 1990, PARKROYAL Penang Resort has undergone several refreshments over the years to stay relevant in Penang’s hospitality landscape. Each of the resort’s 308 rooms, ranging from 23 to 94 square metres, has been completely renovated. PARKROYAL Penang Resort now offers ten room categories across 284 guestrooms and 24 suites. General Manager, Edward Kollmer said, “Tourism is thriving in Penang. Malaysians and foreign visitors flock to Penang for its unrivalled local food, culture, and even ecotourism. The state continues to innovate and develop the tourism sector to maintain Penang’s pole position, and we are fortunate to be part of Penang’s growth. We are proud of our heritage and will keep working hard to remain one of Penang’s top resorts. As PARKROYAL’s flagship resort, we will fly the flag high in our continued commitment to celebrate the best in people as we bring our utmost to ensure unwavering sincerity in service and product” STAND No. 351 IHG Set to Open Romantic New Vietnam Island Resort on 28 June Combining refined luxury with beautiful beachfront surroundings, InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort offers 459 elegant rooms, suites and villas on Vietnam’s most idyllic tropical island. Offering exceptional luxury and refinement in Phu Quoc, InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, owned by Syrena Phu Quoc Land Joint Stock Company, is surrounded by verdant jungle matted hills and landscaped gardens overlooking the azure ocean. The resort features a series of private low rise and Sky Tower accommodation, many featuring landscaped gardens, patios, direct access to the white sandy beach and magical daily sunsets. InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is located near the tail end of Long Beach, with a pristine secluded beach just for our guests. The resort is a short 15 minutes’ drive from Phu Quoc International Airport, and 20 minutes from Duong Dong – the main town on the island STAND No. 733 ITB CHINA NEWS • Wednesday 9 th May 2018 www.itb-china-news.com
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
