Abu Dhabi opens US, Saudi tourism offices

The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority has opened new offices in the United States and Saudi Arabia as it aims to put the UAE capital on the global tourism map. In a bid to boost tourism from the US, the authority has set up a dedicated promotion office in New York City. The office, which is staffed by a team of four and led by country manager Kershing Goh, will represent the emirate's interests in developing tourism from the US. "Opening a US office was a natural progression for us," said Dayne Lim, product development director, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. "Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming an important travel destination and with all the exciting developments over the next few years, it will be a destination to reckon with. "With increased air access from the US planned, this is a timely initiative." The opening of the US office is Abu Dhabi's first major foray into the US and is part of the emirate's measured efforts towards economic diversification of which tourism is a key pillar. US hotel guest nights in Abu Dhabi have been steadily growing over the years reaching 486,488 nights, a 16 percent increase in 2011 from 2010. Based on guest nights, the US is the emirate's second international source market for Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways is planning to launch daily, non-stop services between Washington DC and Abu Dhabi International Airport from March 31 next year. The airline currently operates daily, non-stop flights from JFK New York and Chicago to Abu Dhabi International. Separately, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority has opened a fully-fledged office in Saudi Arabia to penetrate the kingdom's high potential outbound market. The office, in Jeddah, has dedicated trade promotion, MICE and public relations staff and will double as a visitor centre. The move comes as Saudi Arabia and other GCC destinations produce more hotel guests for the emirate than ever before. In the first quarter of this year some 45,823 GCC nationals, excluding Emiratis, stayed in Abu Dhabi's hotels and hotel apartments - a 57 percent increase on Q1 2011. Saudi Arabia produced the lion's share with some 22,107 Saudis staying in Abu Dhabi, making the kingdom the UAE capital's fourth largest international source market. "This market on our doorstep is extremely important to us," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, international promotions manager,. The authority's Saudi office opening comes as it spearheads its first major travel fair promotion in the kingdom along with 12 of its key stakeholders.