ID :
123852
Mon, 05/24/2010 - 13:53
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/123852
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Abu Dhabi a leisure destination in the making, says French Travel Agents Body
Abu Dhabi, May 24, 2010 (WAM)- The French National Travel Agents Association (SNAV - Ile de France) has identified Abu Dhabi as an emerging international leisure destination following the staging of its annual convention in the emirate.
Some 180 agents - representing key influencers within the French travel industry community - attended the convention at the five-star Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in Abu Dhabi's stunning Liwa Desert. The delegation then moved on to the UAE capital to sample the iconic Yas Hotel - the only hotel in the world straddling a Formula 1 race track - the Saadiyat Island Cultural District exhibition in Emirates Palace. They also visited Ferrari World, the world's largest indoor theme park due to open on October 28 and took in a guided tour of the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
As the convention concluded with a glittering gala dinner hosted by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) in an Emirates Palace ballroom, SNAV's President Michelle Herbaut spoke of the destination's potential and the business opportunities it holds out for the French travel trade.
"Abu Dhabi has been known as a business destination but this is clearly changing - the attractions which have come on line, and are coming on line alter the dynamics. This is an international leisure destination in the making which will resonate well with our clients who are looking for new experiences. We now have the knowledge to go back and sell a destination which will witness an obvious upturn in French tourist arrivals, particularly as the Louvre Abu Dhabi moves towards its opening," she said.
The dinner was attended by HE Alain Azouaou, the French ambassador to the UAE who said growth in two-way tourism between the Republic and Abu Dhabi are set to develop with enhanced air links provided by Etihad, the national airline of the UAE, and Air France, which began non-stop services to the UAE capital earlier this month.
Welcoming the delegation to Abu Dhabi, ADTA's Administration Director, Khaled Al Hashemi said the number of French nationals staying in hotels in the emirate is on the increase. "In the first quarter of this year the number of French hotel guests we received rose by 1% on the same period last year to 10,230. While the increase is slight, it is still heading in the right direction in what has been a challenging time. We believe the strengthening relationship with the French travel trade can build on this solid foundation and that together we can keep the momentum going," he added. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
Some 180 agents - representing key influencers within the French travel industry community - attended the convention at the five-star Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in Abu Dhabi's stunning Liwa Desert. The delegation then moved on to the UAE capital to sample the iconic Yas Hotel - the only hotel in the world straddling a Formula 1 race track - the Saadiyat Island Cultural District exhibition in Emirates Palace. They also visited Ferrari World, the world's largest indoor theme park due to open on October 28 and took in a guided tour of the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
As the convention concluded with a glittering gala dinner hosted by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) in an Emirates Palace ballroom, SNAV's President Michelle Herbaut spoke of the destination's potential and the business opportunities it holds out for the French travel trade.
"Abu Dhabi has been known as a business destination but this is clearly changing - the attractions which have come on line, and are coming on line alter the dynamics. This is an international leisure destination in the making which will resonate well with our clients who are looking for new experiences. We now have the knowledge to go back and sell a destination which will witness an obvious upturn in French tourist arrivals, particularly as the Louvre Abu Dhabi moves towards its opening," she said.
The dinner was attended by HE Alain Azouaou, the French ambassador to the UAE who said growth in two-way tourism between the Republic and Abu Dhabi are set to develop with enhanced air links provided by Etihad, the national airline of the UAE, and Air France, which began non-stop services to the UAE capital earlier this month.
Welcoming the delegation to Abu Dhabi, ADTA's Administration Director, Khaled Al Hashemi said the number of French nationals staying in hotels in the emirate is on the increase. "In the first quarter of this year the number of French hotel guests we received rose by 1% on the same period last year to 10,230. While the increase is slight, it is still heading in the right direction in what has been a challenging time. We believe the strengthening relationship with the French travel trade can build on this solid foundation and that together we can keep the momentum going," he added. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
