Abu Dhabi’s tourism agency is tapping into the high-spending Saudi Arabian market to increase the length of stays in the emirate.
On the heels of a visit by Chinese tour operators, the emirate shifted its attentions to host 12 Dammam-based outbound tour operators last week, showcasing Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yas Island and luxury hotels.
Saudi Arabia ranks eighth as an international tourism source market for the emirate, but it’s the largest in the Arabian Gulf region in terms of number of guests and their average length of stay.
“The Abu Dhabi market is primarily a business destination, but over the last two years it is increasingly getting known as a leisure destination because of the promotions from [Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority],” said Francis Dharmai, the regional general manager for Saudi Arabia’s Al Tayyar Travel Group. “It is good for shopping and families.”
Currently, 15 per cent of Al Tayyar’s traffic from Saudi Arabia to the UAE heads for Abu Dhabi. Mr Dharmai expects that to increase to around 20 per cent in a year. His company offers four to five-night packages there besides having tourists who spend at least a night in the emirate while vacationing in Dubai. He said Yas Island with its Ferrari World and waterpark is the big draw.
Naser Al Nasr, the general manager at Dammam’s Nesma Travel and Tourism, recently paid a visit having last visited Abu Dhabi in 1996.
“Around 4 per cent of my business is currently to Abu Dhabi, but by the end of the year we believe we can grow that to around 10 per cent,” he said after touring the city.
In July, the length of stays in Abu Dhabi declined by 5 per cent even as the total number of tourists increased by 26 per cent to 215,286 year-on-year.
In the first six months, the number of Saudi guests rose by 21 per cent, to touch 48,708, staying for an average of 2.18 nights.
The emirate is connected to the kingdom through 78 flights a week with Etihad Airways, Saudi Arabian Airways and Jet Airways.
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
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Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
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Tips for SMEs to cope
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- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
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Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
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