By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter


The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) is expecting a 30% growth in visitor arrivals from Qatar by the end of this year.
Speaking at a promotional road show yesterday, TCA Abu Dhabi GCC country manager Sultan A al-Mansoori expressed optimism that more tourists from Doha will come to Abu Dhabi citing the various tourism products they offer all year round.
“We work together with our government, different entities within Abu Dhabi and with our partners in Qatar or the GCC countries to attract more tourists,” he explained.
The road show aims to showcase the emirate’s various destinations that combine sea and water attractions, modern entertainment, desert spas and retreats, heritage and cultural sites.
Al-Mansoori said they will provide more attractive offers and continue holding highly anticipated events to encourage visitors from Qatar and other GCC countries.
The authority had been continuously developing tourism products, which focus on different segments such as leisure (as a family destination), business, and investments among others.
Visitors from the GCC remained among the top 25 nationalities that frequently travel to Abu Dhabi.
TCA Abu Dhabi recorded a 28% increase (62,499) in the number of hotel guests from Saudi Arabia during the first half of 2015 compared to the same period of last year.
Second on its list is Oman with 30,909 hotel guests, an increase of 15% followed by Kuwait with 13,306 and then Qatar with 13,156 guests.
Al-Mansoori admitted that the weather in Abu Dhabi especially in summer may be a problem. However, he said they try to enhance their tourism products by developing indoor activities at this time of the year.
But Abu Dhabi receives many travellers from Russia, the UK and the US who come mostly during summer. He believes the hot weather does not hinder travellers to the emirate which offers sea, indoor and other activities in hotels.
Besides these offerings, he said Abu Dhabi is a safe place just like other GCC countries which makes the region a preferred tourist destination.
“People are friendly and the infrastructure is there: the roads, transportation, hotels, schools,” al-Mansoori said.
TCA Abu Dhabi’s establishment of 11 overseas offices which included France, Italy, and the US also received strong response from Western tourists, according to the tourism official.
He said they continue to collaborate and work hand in hand with their partners and stakeholders in UAE and Qatar to further increase tourist arrivals next year.
The tourism official noted that travellers will now find it easy to apply for a visa online.
“Sometimes there might be a delay maybe for security reasons but in the end most people get a visa to the UAE,” he added.

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