Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and leading members of the tourism industry will be in Saudi Arabia this month on the first leg of a five-country GCC roadshow aimed at strengthening trade ties and boosting consumer awareness of the emirate's expanding visitor offering. The roadshow, which will include representatives of Abu Dhabi's hotels, tour operators, meetings venue providers and airlines, will be in Jeddah on June 7 and in Riyadh on June 9. The move is part of a renewed focus on the GCC market, which currently represents 10 percent of all Abu Dhabi's inbound international hotel guests. “The GCC, as markets on our doorstep characterized by a propensity to travel locally during challenging times, is vitally important as Abu Dhabi moves forward in its aim of becoming an international destination of distinction and of attracting 2.3 million hotel guests annually by 2012,” said Nasser Al Reyami, the ADTA's director for Tourism Standards and head of the delegation. “We believe Abu Dhabi has strong appeal within the GCC where it is known for its safety, its rich culture, its wide family accommodation choice, service quality and appreciation of Arabian Gulf visitor needs. This supports a diverse landscape of beaches, islands, oases, city centers and stunning desert and an expanding cultural offering including guided tours of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and exhibitions devoted to the planned international museums for Saadiyat Island,” Al Reyami said. The roadshow will also look to engage the Saudi Arabian travel trade and public in the upcoming “Summer In Abu Dhabi” family carnival on July 1-August 15. “The carnival will center around seven fully air-conditioned halls in the vast and ultra-modern Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre,” Al Reyami further said. “It will be an event for the entire family with individual islands themed to educate and entertain and headlined by world-class magic and ice
