Abu Dhabi will push the emirate’s appeal as a destination for Chinese visitors with a multi-city promotional tour.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) will lead a delegation on a trip covering four cities in China during May.
The number of hotel guests from China rose 31 per cent last year to 231,916 compared to 2015 and China is now the emirate’s third largest overseas source market after India and the UK. Abu Dhabi expects to attract 600,000 Chinese visitors a year by 2021.
The emirate’s tourism officials will lead a delegation of hotel, attraction and tour operators on the roadshow with stops in Chengdu, Wuhan, Guanzhou and Nanjing.
A TCA Abu Dhabi-led delegation is also at the three-day China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market in Beijing which runs until tomorrow. Included in the group are executives promoting Yas Marina Circuit, Etihad Airways, Nirvana Travel and Tourism, Omeir Holidays and Yas Island.
Chinese visitors received visa on arrival status in November, and their numbers have increased since then.
“China’s visa on arrival makes it a lot easier [for tour operators], particularly for short lead events four weeks out and not having to make visas definitely makes life easier,” said Justine Thomas-Butler, the head of meetings, incentive and events division at Arabian Adventures.
Abu Dhabi-based Omeir Travel Agency expects to bring 500 visitors to Abu Dhabi this year with a focus on high-end tourists and golfing packages.
Several tourist attractions and hotels in the emirate including Yas Waterworld, Al Ain’s Wadi Adventure, Zayed Sports City and Souk Qaryat Al Beri, have the Welcome Chinese Certification from China Tourism Academy. Chinese tourists look for venues with Mandarin-speaking staff members, Chinese food on the menu, and the ability to accept China Union Pay bank cards.
Etihad Airways will start flying B787 Dreamliner on its daily Beijing-Abu Dhabi route. It operates 28 flights a week to China including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
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