Abu Dhabi welcomes Aussie experts

Abu Dhabi welcomes Aussie experts
By admin


Almost 100 agents from Australia’s top travel agencies recently discovered firsthand why travel numbers to the emirate have skyrocketed throughout 2014.

These ‘Abu Dhabi Experts’ make up the highest achievers from an Australia-wide online educational training program run by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

Together with some of Australia’s top selling agents, the ‘experts’ were treated to a whirlwind mega famil tour across the emirate, jointly organised with Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia.

The fam trip comes as TCA Abu Dhabi figures reveal further growth in the number of Aussies heading to the region’s 156 hotels and apartments, with over 35,000 Aussies booking into Abu Dhabi hotels this year so far.  

Australian travellers have experienced a jump of 18% over last year, with an increase of average-length stay to 3.27 nights.

“The upward trend is encouraging and we want to maintain the momentum by letting these top sellers know just how much more there is now to see and do in the emirate so we can encourage Australians to stay here longer,” TCA Abu Dhabi’s director of promotions and overseas offices Mubarak Al Nuaimi said.

“Abu Dhabi can be sold to Australians as a stand-alone destination and as a longer stopover for those travelling to Europe and beyond. These Abu Dhabi Experts are a front-line force in pushing the message to consumers that the emirate can deliver exceptional experiences, the highest quality service and a world-beating welcome.”

The visiting agents, from Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, enjoyed a six day tour that included World Heritage sites, YAs Waterworld, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and a range of five-star hotels such as Hyatt Capital Gate.

The arrival of the  Aussie experts is the second major Australian travel trade initiative to be staged by TCA Abu Dhabi this year.

July saw a three city-wide Aussie roadshow, while the agent training program is ongoing, having already seen over 200 travel agents and operators visit the Emirate since the beginning of 2013. 

"Aussie-Experts-explore-the-desert-landscape-surrounding-the-Arabian-Nigh.jpg"

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest News

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]