A 12-member strong delegation from Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is on a visit to Saudi Arabia to show off what Abu Dhabi has lined up this summer that would draw the interest of tourists from the Kingdom this coming school break. In a roadshow held at the Jeddah Marriott Hotel on Sunday, the group unveiled the new captivating state-of-the-art tourist facilities and amusement parks meant for the whole families. Under the slogan “Summer In Abu Dhabi”, the six-week festival in the UAE capital from July 1 to August 15, has been tailor-made for a GCC audience and is the biggest edutainment extravaganza seen in the emirate. Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, ADTA, said “the Abu Dhabi 2009 GCC road show is a tangible demonstration of the importance Abu Dhabi is placing on the Arabia Gulf as a prime market for the development of sustainable business links and ongoing visitor generation.” Taking up 28,500 square meters across seven, fully air-conditioned halls in the award-winning Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the event will be themed into five islands, all designed to engage, educate and entertain. The Kingdom is Abu Dhabi's primary GCC source market for tourists, with 7,379 Saudi visitors staying in the UAE capital's hotels during the first quarter of 2009 alone. The total number of GCC hotel visitors during the same period was 21,000. Mubarak Rashed Al Nuami, international promotion manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said Saudis constitute the bulk of tourists in Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia currently ranks as Abu Dhabi's sixth largest hotel guest market. Moreover, he said that despite the global economic slowdown, Abu Dhabi tourism industry stays robust and gains momentum, noting that ADTA has so far participated in 17 international exhibitions last year and has opened offices in Hong Kong and China as part of the government's diversification initiative to further strengthen the local economy. He forecast a 20-30 percent increase in the number of tourists this year from more than 100,000 tourists from the Gulf last year. “Throughout the region, the tourism industry is being prioritized as perhaps never before with governments realizing the immense socio-economic benefits this sector can deliver,” Al Muhairi said. ADTA Director of Tourism Standards Nasser Al Reyami added that “the GCC, as markets in close proximity and 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 attracting 2.3 million hotel guests annually by 2012.” He said “we believe Abu Dhabi has strong appeal within the GCC where it is recognized for its safety, its respect for culture, its wide family accommodation choice, service quality and appreciation of Arabian Gulf visitor needs.” Summer In Abu Dhabi will feature a host of regional entertainment “firsts.” The island-hopping journey includes various islands - Science & Technology, Adventure, Art, Culture & Heritage, Sports and Fun & Entertainment - that will take visitors on their most thrilling journey yet. Visitors will be amused by mainline shows - the Freij Circus and the “Magic On Ice” US spectacular, which will be debuting in the Middle East with 16 performers starring in a 70 minute show staged six days a week at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City. “These productions will be considerable draws,” said Dayne Lim, product development director, ADTA. “Magic On Ice is the world's only magic performance on ice and has won considerable media acclaim from within the USA, Europe and Asia. It is a mystical combination of the beauty of ice-skating and the magic of illusion.” The Freij circus will bring together performers from all over the globe to produce thrilling performances by trampoline and high wire trapeze artists as well as charming animal shows. As such, Al Reyami further said, the Summer In Abu Dhabi carnival would be the perfect draw for Saudi families. “It is a huge festival designed to educate, enthuse, engage and entertain all ages,” he said. “The carnival could also be seen as the centerpiece of a longer break in Abu Dhabi which could also take in the heritage rich, and mountain oasis retreat of Al Ain, which has low summer humidity levels, and the unique island haven of Sir Bani Yas Island in Al Gharbia where families can take in the Arabian Wildlife Park with its herds of free roaming animals.” “This is a huge festival designed to educate, enthuse, engage and entertain all ages,” Al Reyami noted. “The carnival could also be seen as the centerpiece of a longer break in Abu Dhabi which could also take in the heritage rich, and mountain oasis retreat of Al Ain, which has low summer humidity levels, and the unique island haven of Sir Bani Yas Island in Al Gharbia where families can take in the Arabian Wildlife Park with its herds of free roaming animals.” Aside from Summer in Abu Dhabi, several events are also being promoted by the ADTA roadshow, like the November's F1 Etihad Airways GP and December's Fifa World Clubs Cup also featuring heavily. ADTA is currently working with its retail and hospitality stakeholders to round out the Summer in Abu Dhabi experience with special packages. Abu Dhabi is a destination of distinction where preservation of culture, heritage and the environment are prioritized. “This is a destination where respect for the past, informs the present and will impact the future,” Al Reyami underscored. __
