Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry heads to US on 3-city roadshow

Abu Dhabi's tourism industry is embarking on a four-day, three-city roadshow in North America next week as it looks to build on increasing inbound tourism from the continent.

Led by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, a five-strong delegation of the emirate's tourism stakeholders will join the roadshow from June 1st - 4th starting in Washington D.C., before heading to Chicago, Illinois on June 3rd and then ending the tour in Dallas, Texas, on June 4th.

Joining TCA Abu Dhabi will be representatives from the UAE's national airline, Etihad Airways, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Anantara Hotels Resorts and Spas, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi as well as Celebrity Cruises, the Royal Caribbean Cruises arm that offers upscale cruise vacations around the world.

Product managers, reservation staff, travel agents, media partners, MICE representatives and industry partners will be invited to the roadshow for presentations highlighting Abu Dhabi's tourism credentials and offering opportunities for networking with trade partners.

"The United States is our fourth largest international source market, and as such an extremely important target for us for inbound visitors," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of Promotions and Overseas Offices at TCA Abu Dhabi. "In 2014, 37 percent more visitors from the US arrived in Abu Dhabi than in 2013. There are currently 45 flights a week to Abu Dhabi, operated by our national airline Etihad Airways, from Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas/Ft. Worth, with this last route having recently being increased to three flights a week. So there are already excellent air links.

"Last year saw 123,196 guests arrive from the United States, which generated 608,556 guest nights, making American visitors one of our longest stayers with an average length of stay of just under five nights. We would like them to stay longer and discover much more of our emirate, and our US roadshows will showcase our world-class destination with first-class hotels, highly competitive room rates and a rich diversity of cultures and attractions. I'm sure our profile in the US will be raised even more with this triple-city event."