TravTalk India Online Magazine
After unveiling their tourism strategy for 2030, Abdulla Yousuf Mohammad, Director of International Operations, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, says they plan to surpass the target of 285,000 Indian hotel guests by the year-end.
Janice Alyosius
Abdulla Yousuf Mohammad, Director of International Operations, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, recently unveiled their tourism strategy for 2030, with an aim to position Abu Dhabi as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations globally. Talking about the tourism strategy, Mohammad said, “It is structured around four main pillars. The main one being city activation and offering, the second being infrastructure development and mobility, the third being marketing and promotion, and the last being visa and regulation. Throughout the strategy, we have defined more than 26 initiatives that define what we want to achieve in order to reach our goals.”
An integral part of the strategy is the diversification of source markets, which will be expanded to 26 source markets from 11 at present, ensuring a broader base of hotel guests and greater resilience against market fluctuations. “This approach aims to maintain Abu Dhabi’s appeal across various demographics and economic landscapes,” Mohammad said.
Central to the strategy is enhancing Abu Dhabi’s city offering and activation. Mohammad explained, “When we look at city offering and activation, we are focused on ensuring that the event calendar in Abu Dhabi is filled with events throughout the year, offering experiences for hotel guests regardless of when they choose to visit.”
Abu Dhabi recently inaugurated Terminal A at Zayed International Airport, a critical step in enhancing connectivity. Talking about the connectivity issue, Mohammad said, “We are working closely with all international airlines to position Abu Dhabi as a key destination in their network development.” Additionally, they are collaborating with hotels in Abu Dhabi. “We are working with hoteliers to ensure a consistent standard of product and services within our hospitality sector,” Mohammad added.
Abu Dhabi aims to become a more investor-friendly destination by simplifying visa procedures. Mohammad said, “When we look at visa and regulation, we are focused on making Abu Dhabi an investor-friendly destination and simplifying visa processes to attract more visitors.” Abu Dhabi’s strategy includes detailed plans for each market, tailored to demographics and travel preferences. He also emphasised on the importance of personalised marketing and effective communication channels to engage target audiences effectively.
Speaking of collaboration with the Indian travel trade, Mohammad said, “The Indian travel trade is crucial to us. Through our office in India, we work closely with key players in the market, including OTAs, tour operators, wholesalers, travel agents, associations, and groups.”
Elaborating on their commitment to supporting travel professionals in promoting Abu Dhabi effectively, he said, “We ensure they have everything they need to communicate what’s new and happening in Abu Dhabi.” He also highlighted their e-learning programme, which is designed to equip agents with comprehensive knowledge about Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi conducts regular roadshows in key markets to enhance partnerships with airlines and bolster tourism growth. Recently, they organised a roadshow in tier II cities of India, and this September, they are gearing up for tier I cities with over 40 stakeholders.
