One hundred of Australia’s top travel agents are due in Abu Dhabi next month on a mega familiarisation trip hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) together with carriers Virgin Australia and Etihad Airways.
The 100 hail from retail travel agencies Australia-wide who’re all top sellers of The Travel Corporation’s iconic travel brands, including Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations and artistic Holidays, in addition to Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia.
Due inside the emirate for a 3-day destination fact-finding trip from March 7, the gang will stay at a variety of Abu Dhabi’s finest hotels, including the five-star, beachfront Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort,Le MéridienHotel Abu Dhabi, Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi. While within the emirate they’ll have a city tour, visit the UAE capital’s stunning Corniche, its magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – just named among the many world’s most mentioned attractions by TripAdvisor – the Mina Zayed date and fish markets, Heritage Village, Falcon Hospital and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor theme park with the world’s fastest roller-coaster. They’ll also head out into Abu Dhabi’s vast desert for a Sundowner Safari and dinner and be treated to a farewell dinner on the iconic Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, the sole hotel on this planet straddling an F1 race track.
“Our aim is to more closely hook up with these important influencers, convince them of our product in order to assist us in converting more Australian travellers into actual bookings for Abu Dhabi,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions & Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.
“We see strong potential within Australiawith our destination now benefitting from 31 flights every week from the rustic linking Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Abu Dhabi International. The possible is both as a stopover for those travelling to Europe and beyond and increasingly as a stand-alone destination. Currently Australian guests in Abu Dhabi hotels average a stay of just over three nights – we need them to understand there’s now so much more to work out and do within the emirate so as to expand this length of stay.”
Last year some 36,659 Australians stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments – a five percent rise on 2011. They accounted for 118,289 room nights.
Etihad Airways currently operates 28 flights per week from Australia, with departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Virgin Australia operating three flights every week from Sydney.