Abu Dhabi's looks to go big in Japan

Abu Dhabi, May 22, 2012 (WAM) - Abu Dhabi's expanding tourism proposition is to be laid out in detail in the destination's first road show in Japan next month. To be held in Tokyo on June 12th, the road show will be led by Abu Dhabi Tourism '&' Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) and feature six of its key stakeholders including Etihad Airways, the award-winning national airline of the United Arab Emirates, which currently operates 10 flights a week from Japan - five from Tokyo and five from Nagoya. The road show is aimed at capitalising on growing hotel guest stays from Japan which saw some 3,176 Japanese stay in the emirate's hotel in the first quarter of this year - a 39% increase on Q1 2011. These guests delivered 13,119 guest nights which was up 9% on the first three month of last year. "Our delegation includes fabulous new five-star hotels, tour operators and destination management providers," explained Mubarak Al Nuaimi, International Promotions Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi. "We believe we have the right mix of offering to satisfy Japanese travellers who are looking for exciting golf options, culture and heritage experiences and luxury accommodation. "Given Japan's close trading ties with Abu Dhabi, the Japanese business traveller is keenly in our focus with an eye on persuading them to extend their stay in the emirate to experience the diversity of our desert, coastal and city attractions." Also joining the TCA Abu Dhabi Tokyo road show are the five-star hotels Jumeirah at Etihad Towers and Rocco Forte Abu Dhabi as well as tour operator/DMC Net Tours, The Vision Destination Management and Planet Travels '&' Tourism. – Emirates News Agency, WAM