Abu Dhabi Promotes Itself at EIBTM
DECEMBER 1, 2006. Abu Dhabi's participation in the European Incentive and Business Travel Meetings (EIBTM has been a resounding success in promoting Abu Dhabi in a way that tallies with its regional and international importance.
EIBTM is the annual global meetings and incentives exhibition in Spain, bringing together nearly 3,000 international suppliers with 6,000 visitors, hosted buyers and press for 3 days of notable business opportunities, optimal networking and best professional education.
'Participating in the EIBTM fits within the diligent efforts exerted by Abu Dhabi to promote itself in MICE get-togethers and showcase its considerable tourist potentials, primarily its distinguished geographical location, sophisticated infra-strucutre and logistic facilties,' said Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).
The ADTA chief singled out Abu Dhabi's hosting of the GIBTM Exhbition, another MICE event to kick off in March 2007. He added that the focus laid by the emirate on this growing tourist sector falls within the context of all-embracing development plans tailored to turn the toruism sector into a key non-oil tribuatory serving the local economy.
Sheikh Tahnoun added that Abu Dhabi boasts all the potential necessry to establish the emirate on the world tourism map, referring in this regard to the considerable increase in hotel occupancy rates and the surge in the number of tourists visiting the emirate.
He noted that Abu Dhabi's presence in MICE gatherings enables the emirate to enhance its tourist profile, especially that such gatherings enjoy the presence of all coutnries and authorities interested in the field.
The emirate's participation in the EIBTM aimed to showcase its latest tourist projects and buoy up its ties with its current clientele besides securing more business relations and keep abreast of the latest trends on the market.
On his part, ADTA Director General Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi said the emirate of Abu Dhabi is fully aware of the paramount importance of the incentive tourism sector and the jumbo leaps secured there in comparison with other tourist sectors. He stressed that the emirate considers itself to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the Middle East that is capable of enticing a large portion of this sector's clientele.
'The mega infrastructure projects and other related utilities implemented by the emirate over the recent period will enable Abu Dhabi to have a stronger presence on the map of this tourist sector over the coming years, particularly that the emirate boasts advanced infrastructure capable of accommodating larger numbers of tourists,' he noted.
The DG added that the Abu Dhabi national Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), once completed will constitute a considerable boost to the emirate's MICE potential.
The ADNEC is a state-of-the-art venue for international exhibitions and conferences. It is an ultra-modern exhibition centre built to international standards. Centrally located in the city, the facility is easily accessed from Abu Dhabi International Airport as well as from all major hotels in the city.
The center's 500 million AED-first phase is already well under way and on schedule for completion by January 2007 to host the internationally recognised IDEX 2007 defence exhibition and conference. This phase is to add about 28500 sqm to the exhibition's space, run by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company.
The complex will include 57,000 sqm of gross exhibition floor space, a massive 21,000 sqm visitor concourse and 7,500 sqm of multi-purpose halls. The new centre will also feature dedicated conference facilities for 1,200 people, banqueting areas and more than 30 high-specification meeting rooms.
The area surrounding the new centre is scheduled for immediate development and will feature hotels, serviced apartments for 2000 people, 17 office towers, a marina development and a retail zone with over 100 outlets.
On his part, Ali Al Hosani, the ADTA marketing Division director, said the emirate's participation in the EIBTM is part of the emirate's attempts to buttress up its position on the map of incentive and conference tourism.
He highlighted the importance of the EIBTM, being a meeting point for a large number of CEOs and decision makers in the tourism domain, which, he said, is a golden chance for promoting Abu Dhabi among key world tourist destinations.
The Abu Dhabi EIBM pavilion showcased a principal panel for Emirates Palace in addition to 13 other panels for tourist agencies and companies participating, including Alpha Tours, Rotana Beach Hotel & Towers and Net Tours besides some of the key tourist players in the emirate.
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