Sharing Excellence
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RECORD 3.49 MILLION tourists visited Abu Dhabi in 2014, and even though global economic conditions did not look favorable for 2015, Abu Dhabi witnessed a growth in visitor numbers from January to June this year, prompting the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) to consider new targets from current projections for 2015 and beyond. “We are targeting 3.9million visitors in 2015”, says Mr. Sultan Al Dhaheri, TCA Abu Dhabi’s acting Executive Director of Tourism. When asked about the factors that contributed to this phenomenal growth, he responds: “There are a number of factors which contributed. These include sustained and results-oriented marketing initiatives, an increase in our attraction and accommodation line-up and the staging of world-class events which appeal to an international audience”.
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Mr. Sultan proudly adds: “In terms of new attractions, last year Yas Mall became one of the most popular shopping destinations in the Middle East with its impressive lineup of retail offerings, contemporary interior, effortless layout, and great location. As for accommodation, we now have over 160 hotels and hotel apartments as compared to 150 last year and currently boast 28,374 rooms as opposed to 26,001 for the comparative period. This is a 7% increase in available rooms.” “Visitors are now aware of our world-class tourism offering, and there are encouraging signs for further growth as we add more diverse products, drive more effective stakeholder coordination and expand our local, regional and global marketing initiatives.” Mr. Sultan reaffirms. In getting into the importance of the growth of Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector, Mr. Sultan elaborates on
Issue 10 - OCTOBER 2015
All Eyes on
Abu Dhabi With Sultan Al Dhaheri,
Acting Executive Director of Tourism at Tourism & Culture Authority Abu Dhabi its significance, “Tourism is one of the Emirate’s strategic sectors for economic growth and diversification as identified in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. The industry has significantly contributed to raising Abu Dhabi’s image and recognition worldwide, encouraged infrastructure improvements, such as better hotels, roads, land, water and air transport networks,
recreation facilities such as parks, malls, attractions etc., all of which improve the quality of life for residents as well as visitors.” In further expanding on the importance of this sector, Mr. Sultan adds: “The rapid expansion of tourism in the emirate which has grown from less than one million visitors in 2004 to 3.49 million in 2014 has led to a