(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) Â Abu Dhabi's tourism industry is heading to Japan and Korea this month for road shows aimed at putting the emirate's expanding destination offerings higher on the Far Eastern outbound travel trade agenda.
Led by Abu Dhabi Tourism '&' Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), an 11-strong delegation comprising transport, hotel and resort operators, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) facilities and destination management companies, will be presenting an expanded tourism proposition increasingly tailored to the high-yield Far Eastern visitor.
With ever strong commercial and trade links between Abu Dhabi and both Japan and Korea, the emirate's tourism sector is looking to turn business relationships to their advantage.
According to Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions '&' Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi, "Travellers from both countries now have good air access to the emirate with Etihad Airways operating 12 flights a week from Japan and seven from Korea to Abu Dhabi International Airport." The dual-country push comes as Abu Dhabi receives more Japanese and Korean hotel guests than ever before. In the first four months of this year, 4,450 Japanese checked into the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments - a jump of 10% on the same period last year. They delivered 17,842 guest nights, which is up 5% year-to-date and translates into an average-length-stay of just over four nights.
Growth from South Korea was also encouraging. Some 5,059 Koreans stayed in the emirate's accommodation from January to April this year - a 35% leap on the same period in 2012. They delivered 13,319 guest nights representing a climb of 72% year-to-date which translates into an average-length-stay of 2.63 nights, a 28% expansion.
Destination Management Company, Arabian Adventures, has already started tailoring its products to cater for Far Eastern tourism.
"We operate a Japanese language Abu Dhabi city tour," explained Leila Dias, Business Development Manager. "We have also negotiated specific requirements with some hotels to provide 24 hour check-in, check-out facilities thereby reducing the cost of packages for transit passengers." Japan and Korea delivered approximately 15,500 UAE room nights for Arabian Adventures over the past year, and the company plans to stimulate this with additional specialised product. "We plan to introduce more tours with Japanese language guides in the coming season," added Dias.
Arabian Adventures, which has a GSA in Tokyo and a direct contract with JTB, the country's biggest wholesaler/travel agent and has signed up with Korea's biggest wholesale travel agency, Hana Tours, sees both markets as tough but worthwhile markets to penetrate.
"The Japanese market is high yield and very organised. Although complex, there is consistency in the business, especially during the summer months when we need business for this region the most," said Dias. "Korea has a strong economy and the potential to grow for this region, but will definitely need support from destinations."
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