Abu Dhabi – the new buzz
WITH Abu Dhabi more
accessible to South
Africans than ever
before – thanks largely to the
addition of a second daily
flight made possible through
SAA and Etihad Airways’
expanded codeshare – the
timing seemed right for the
establishment of a local
branch of the Abu Dhabi
Tourism & Culture Authority
(TCA Abu Dhabi), says the
organisation’s country
manager, Tracey Krog.
The destination has much
to offer the South African
traveller. With a large
number of Muslims calling
South Africa home, TCA
Abu Dhabi’s Halal Tourism
programme, promoting selfguided
visits to culturally
important sites, is on target,
she says. To this end, TCA
Abu Dhabi is joining forces
with specialist tour operators
in South Africa, such as
Legend Tours, who are able
to speak directly to the
target market.
The destination also boasts
a number of attractions for
sports fans, from Ferrari
World to the only links
course in the United Arab
Emirates. Events such as
the Abu Dhabi International
Triathlon and Abu Dhabi
HSBC Golf Championship are
further draw cards.
For art lovers, the Louvre
Abu Dhabi is set to open
at the end of 2015 and
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will
open its doors in 2017.
Yas Waterworld and
the Arabian Wildlife Park
satisfy the need for family
activities, while the Yas and
Marina malls offer excellent
shopping opportunities.
The destination is also
gearing up for the cruise
industry with the launch of a
cruise terminal at the end of
the year.
But the MICE market will
be the destination’s key
focus, says Tracey. “With two
daily flights, accessibility is
assured.
The destination is well
priced, within R1 500ppns.
With a plethora of hotels
and conference venues,
it is well equipped for
conventions and has, in the
past year, hosted significant
international events such as
the Eye on Earth Summit.”
With double-daily flights,
the city’s appeal as a
stopover destination has
also increased.
Natalia Rosa, media and
PR executive of TCA Abu
Dhabi, says the organisation
is undertaking a number of
initiatives to educate local
travel agents about the
destination and its
offerings. Chief among
these are training sessions,
with an online training
service launched on
visitabudhabi.ae.
The company is working
to establish partnerships
with industry players, from
tour operators to PCOs and
incentive specialists, and will
be hosting fam trips to Abu
Dhabi.
South Africa has been
selected as one of a
limited number of markets
to participate in TCA Abu
Dhabi’s Summer Season
campaign, which encourages
tour operators to formulate
value-for-money packages
showcasing the best of Abu
Dhabi’s seasonal attractions
Book it!
Thompsons Holidays is offering a four-night special at the five-star
Le Meridien Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Priced at R12 200pps, the offer
includes return flights from Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi, airline
levy, return transfers, breakfast daily, a tourist visa, a fruit basket
and a bottle of mineral water upon arrival. To qualify for this offer,
travellers must book and pay 30 days in advance. Travel dates are
May 1 to August 27 and the offer expires on July 30.
Thompsons Holidays is offering a four-night stay at Dubai’s fivestar
Atlantis, The Palm. With prices starting from R23 813 from
Johannesburg, the package includes return flights to Dubai, airline
levy, return transfers and breakfast and dinner daily. Value-adds
include free entry to the Aquaventure Water Park and The Lost
Chambers Aquarium. The special is available between July 16 and
August 21.
Abu Dhabi vs Dubai
WHILE Abu Dhabi works
to raise its profile among
South African travellers who
are more familiar with its
neighbour, Dubai, industry
authorities believe it will
boost travel to Dubai, rather
than compete with it.
“Abu Dhabi and Dubai
are two of the seven
Emirates that make up the
Union of the UAE. They are
only one hour apart and
currently many visitors to
the country visit both these
destinations,” says Wendie
White, director of the Dubai
Department of Tourism
and Commerce Marketing
Southern Africa.
Increased exposure will
benefit the entire Gulf
region by increasing focus
on the area, she says. “Our
experience is that many
people want to know more
about other Emirates, and
while our focus is on Dubai,
we realise that SA travellers
are seeking to gain the most
out of their experience in
the region.”
She adds that the
organisation has no
intention of changing its
strategy following TCA
Abu Dhabi’s entry into the
market.
“There is a clear focus
that is being rolled out over
the next five years as we
follow vp of the UAE and
ruler of Dubai, HE Sheikh
Mohammmed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum’s, vision to
welcome two million visitors
to the Emirate by 2020.
In addition, as the Emirate
prepares to host the World
Expo 2020, our marketing
efforts will continue as
planned for 2015 and
beyond with our focus on
family travel, new markets
and MICE, for example.”
Tracey Krog adds that the
recently established TCA
Abu Dhabi does not intend
to compete with Dubai.
“Our strategy is to
promote Abu Dhabi as a
cost-effective destination
rather than a stopover point,
emphasising its culture and
heritage. Both destinations
will, of course, participate in
the same road shows and
other industry events but our
campaigns will be exclusive.
We certainly don’t intend to
force comparisons between
the two destinations.”
Dubai’s popularity as a
destination is increasing as
it experiences something of
an evolution, says Johann
Strydom, md of World
Leisure Holidays.
“In the past, Dubai
was known primarily as
a stopover or shopping
destination but it’s
increasingly becoming
thought of as a destination
in its own right.
“We’re seeing more people
booking five- to seven-night
stays in the city.”
John Ridler, Cullinan
Outbound Tourism’s media
and PR manager, agrees,
adding that Dubai’s
popularity has been boosted
by the element of the
“spectacular”.
“There are so many unique
attractions, like Ski Dubai
and 4x4 dune safaris. Add
to that, swimming with
dolphins, fabulous resorts,
and year-round good
weather.
Brush up on your
knowledge
AGENTS eager to improve
their knowledge about
Abu Dubai can access
Discover Abu Dhabi
(www.Discoverabudhabi.
tcaabudhabi.ae) – TCA
Abu Dhabi’s e-learning
channel – which includes
info on golfing, adventure
activities, important
landmarks, heritage,
culture and more. Industry
players who complete the
workshop between April 7
and September 30 stand
to win a number of prizes,
including a fam trip to
Abu Dhabi.
Royal Caribbean back
in Dubai
ROYAL Caribbean’s Splendour
of the Seas has announced
its 2015/2016 schedule,
which includes voyages to
Dubai as well as shorter
and longer cruise options,
allowing visitors to explore
the UAE and other Middle
Eastern destinations.
The seven-day cruise begins
and ends in Dubai, with visits
along the way to the ports of
Khasab and Muscat in Oman
and Abu Dhabi.
The longer flagship 16-night
Suez Canal cruise starts in
Venice before visiting Athens/
Piraeus, Haifa and Jerusalem.
It will then go through the
Suez Canal and cruise the
Red Sea, before turning into
the Gulf of Aden and round
the Arabian Peninsula to the
UAE, where the first stopover
is Salalah. The trip ends in
Dubai. A 16-night version of
this same cruise travels in
the opposite direction.
