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

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]