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28 March 2024

Revealed: Which emirate is India's favourite family destination

Published
By WAM

Abu Dhabi has won the ‘Best Family Destination Award’ from India’s prestigious International Tourism Conclave & Travel Awards (ITCTA) - one of the republic’s largest and most significant B2B (business-to-business) meeting platforms.

The accolades are awarded on the basis of industry feedback and market visibility of the destination.

"This is progress indeed within this high potential market," said Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which has been driving ‘destination awareness building; within India.

"Since opening our representative office in India at the beginning of this year, Abu Dhabi has steadily built on its popularity as an emerging family destination among Indian consumers and its travel trade," said Al Darmaki. "With increased airlift from India coming from Etihad Airways and Jet Airways and stronger engagement with the Indian travel trade, the country has become our largest international source market for hotel guests."

TCA Abu Dhabi is extensively promoting family attractions within India including the big ticket attractions on Yas Island - Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld – as well as family activities such as desert safaris and dune bashing; the Arabian Wildlife Parkof Sir Bani Yas Island as well as the virtue of being in one of the world’s safest holiday destinations.

In the first eight months of this year, 107,223 Indians checked into Abu Dhabi hotels – a 23 per cent hike over the same period in 2012. Indian arrivals delivered 434,554 guest nights which is up 34 per cent year-on-year with Indian visitors staying, on an average, just over four nights.

 
Abu Dhabi to be featured on ‘The Amazing Race’


Abu Dhabi will be featured as a destination on the current season of the popular CBS reality contest, The Amazing Race.

The first episode of this season's show premiered on September 29.
Abu Dhabi will be highlighted in episode 8 on November 17, as teams, vying for a $1 million grand prize,
test their "need for speed" in a racing challenge at the renowned Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island.

The Yas Marina race track is the world’s most technologically advanced F1 circuit with the  longest straight section and the iconic Yas Viceroy – the only hotel in the world to straddle an F1 race track – flanking it. The Etihad Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is F1’s only twilight race.

Testing their nerves on the track will be an Amazing Race cast that includes two former NFL teammates, professional baseball player’s wives, LA Kings Ice Crew Girls, theatre performers and ER doctors. The season is sure to keep viewers tuned in as the cast navigates their way across four continents, through nine countries, clocking in more than 35,000 miles of travel.

The Amazing Race has won the Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Reality-Competition Programme’ nine times. (WAM)