Abu Dhabi promoting itself as travel destination for GCC residents

The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) visited Doha last week as part of a campaign to promote the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a tourist destination during the shoulder season.

The tour, which will visit a number of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, made stops at the Grand Hyatt Muscat, the Regency Hotel Kuwait in Kuwait City, the Sharq Village & Spa in Qatar, and the InterContinental Regency Bahrain.

"Our current roadshow combines meeting with the leaders of the travel and tourism sector in the GCC and representatives of prominent media organizations in their respective countries," Sultan Al Mansouri, KSA country manager for TSA Abu Dhabi, said. "The meetings will focus on the collection of upcoming cultural and art activities listed on Abu Dhabi's agenda, all the while calling attention to the promotional offers extended to visitors by the emirate's hotels and shopping centers as they play a major role in attracting visitors."

TCA Abu Dhabi also highlighted the opportunities and facilities available for the business tourism segment of the market. 

Tourists from the GCC are among the top 25 nationalities that frequently travel to Abu Dhabi. The TSA Abu Dhabi said that Abu Dhabi's hotels received more than 62,499 hotel guests from Saudi Arabia during the first half of this year, an 28 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The TCA Abu Dhabi tour will continue next week with visits to Saudi Arabia starting at Kempinski Riyadh on Sunday, the Mövenpick Hotel Al Khobar on Tuesday and the Park Hyatt Jeddah on Wednesday.