Press Release Details

ADTA launches 2007 Abu Dhabi business tourism planners guide

Publication Date: 29 Jan 2007

The guide will be a key marketing tool for conventions, exhibitions and incentives.

"Business Tourism is a key area for development and opportunity in Abu Dhabi and we wish to make it easy for anyone wishing to bring Business Tourism into Abu Dhabi by giving them all the information and the contacts of our stakeholders. Abu Dhabi is tipped by the global MICE industry to become the next "hot spot" and there are great things to see and do and we wish to make everyone in the global marketplace aware of them. Via this Guide the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority can put potential buyers in touch with an enthusiastic and professional business tourism industry," said Ahmed Hussein, Director of ADTA's Product Development Division.

ADTA differs from conventional tourism authorities that simply market destinations - ADTA also plays a significant product development role ensuring the UAE capital has the required tourism infrastructure.

"We anticipate this guide will become bigger each year with more exciting hotels, venues and infrastructure being constantly developed," added Hussein
"There are many major hotel developments being planned or constructed and room availability in the capital is set to increase from the current 10,000 rooms to 25,000 by 2015. Abu Dhabi is a growing emirate and a grand vision for the future is firmly in place!"

Among the infrastructure developments is a new modern and world class state of the art Conference and Exhibition Centre aimed at positioning the UAE capital as a centre for global meetings.

"We are working to become the cultural capital of the Middle East with an emphasis on heritage experiences and also global appeal with the building of our museums, such as the first Guggenheim in the region," continued Mr Hussein "We wish to position Abu Dhabi as an easily accessible and safe destination with world class state of the art facilities and infrastructure for seamless and well organised meetings, conferences, incentives or exhibitions and at the same time enjoy the "real Middle East."

Business tourism is generally regarded as one of the highest yielding and most profitable inbound visitor segments because of the significantly greater spend and higher yield than leisure travel.

"While there is strong international and national competition, business tourism is projected to provide increased opportunities for Abu Dhabi over the next ten years, with strong appeal across all key markets," said Hussein "The guide also looks to promote the UAE as a whole with a dedicated section on the entire country's offering to the Business Tourism global industry," added Hussein.
"ADTA is also working towards a new era of public-private partnership in Business Tourism development, especially in light of ambitious plans for the forthcoming period, including infrastructure growth initiatives such as Saadiyat Island, the airport expansion and the development of the new Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre."

For further information, please contact:

Saeed Al Tunaji
Head of Section Communications
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +9712 4 4440444 Fax: +9712 4496666
E-mail: shamdan@adta.ae