TAFI Convention puts Abu Dhabi in the tourism spotlight

Travel associations’ conventions generally draw mix-bag of feedbacks, ranging from a total waste of time, to some good sessions and others not, to a few that are actually hailed. From the destinations point of view that host these events with a view to showcase themselves to a large number agencies in order to develop the source market, these conventions have sometimes delivered and often times not. The TAFI Convention that recently concluded at Abu Dhabi’s iconic Emirates Palace delivered on both fronts.

Themed “Innovation – Transform – Disrupt: Redefining the Offline Travel World” in keeping with the prevailing market conditions, the convention was topical and relevant that took up the right discussions on industry’s issue and concerns as well as the opportunities. It was also crisp in format and planning, other than probably that not just one or two but there were three sessions of pep talk by management and motivational gurus that some found were a little too many, but insightful nevertheless. It brought some of the top industry experts and speakers from various parts of the globe enlightening the guests on how to adopt digitalisation and merge the new ways of transacting business in agencies’ existing offline business models. The convention also had B2B sessions with about 40 stakeholders and suppliers from Abu Dhabi.

From the destination point of view, the convention created ample opportunity for TAFI delegates toexperience the destination first hand, during the business days and later through the post convention tours. The half-day-business-sessions format allowed the delegates to explore Abu Dhabi in the second-half of the day. And then there were post-convention tours that provided delegates’ opportunity to experience first-hand the emirate’s growing tourism attractions; from the adrenalin filled Ferrari World and places like Warner Bros. World and Louvre Abu Dhabi museum to the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Mosque, dessert oasis, camel farms, dune bashing in the endless dessert, among others.

Putting the spotlight on Abu Dhabi as a tourism destination, TAFI President, Praveen Chugh, said, “We have not come here to holiday. Our mission is also to bring more and more tourists to this country. And it looks like it is very-very possible for us. There is no denying the fact that wherever we have done our conventions in the past, be it Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa, Dubai, Israel, it can be witnessed that tourism (from India) to these countries have increased. Being the venue of TAFI Convention 2018, I am again confident that with luck and the strength of my country and membership, Abu Dhabi is going to see much-much better results than what this country is expecting from TAFI and from this convention.”

Chugh said that in three years since TAFI held its convention in Israel, the country has witnessed 500 per cent growth, as has turkey that hosted TAFI convention in October last year and has since seen a staggering over 95 per cent growth in Indian arrival in the first seven-eight months this year over the same period last year.

Undersecretary of Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Saif Saeed Ghobash, while welcoming the TAFI delegate to their 12th annual convention in Abu Dhabi, said, “We are happy to not only have the opportunity to welcome the many new faces to Abu Dhabi giving us the chance to showcase our famed hospitality and our world-class facilities such as Louvre Abu Dhabi but also we build bridges as we grow awareness about our destination in India and across the world. The Indian market is immensely important to us. It is one of our top three markets on the tourism front and it is one of our closest friends.”

He informed that for the month of June Abu Dhabi received more visitors from India than any other countries. More than 29,900 Indian guests visited the emirate during this month, representing 3.7 growth over the same month the previous year. For the January-June 2018 period this represents over 19 per cent increase In Indian arrivals to Abu Dhabi over the same period last year.

Calling on TAFI delegates, Ghobash further said, “You are a very crucial proponent to our tourism learning proposition, to our offerings and to our tourism story. We have everything here that you would want and possibly need. Whether you or your clients are here for business or pleasure, we have what you need, from the very best of MICE infrastructure and business support to the most fascinating cultural experiences, the most thrilling high octane entertainment experiences and the most luxurious hotels, malls and restaurants. Highlights that you could bid include the incredible Louvre Abu Dhabi, the newly opened Warner Bros. World and the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Theses attractions are only just a scratch on the surface of what this beautiful destination can offer. We are very proud for our emirate and we hope you will be similarly impressed.”

 Highlighting the strategic relation between India and UAE, of which Abu Dhabi is the largest and most prosperous emirate among the seven emirates, Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian Ambassador to UAE, pointed that with over US $ 50 billion in bilateral trade, not only India is the third largest trading partner of UAE but also at more than 3 million Indians, UAE has the largest presence of Indian nationals outside of India who are contributing over US $14 billion in remittances annually.

Furthermore, drawing attention of the convention delegates to Emirati warmth and hospitality, Suri said, “Beyond the physical infrastructure that you see in this magnificent hotel (Emirate Palace) and that you will see in Louvre and other places, is the people, their warmth, their hospitality, and above all their openness. The Louvre itself in its vision reflects a conscious effort to bring east and west together. The spirit of tolerance that you see in this country today, you will see reflected in the wonderful temple that will come up in Abu Dhabi in a couple of years time for which work is very actively underway. So take back those softer intangible elements of the country as well.” He also insisted on the need to promote Emiratis visits to India in order to forge closer bilateral tourism ties between India and UAE.

Hailing Abu Dhabi as a wonderful and fascinating family destination, TAFI Convention 2018 Chairman, Bharat Shah, said, “Abu Dhabi has a huge potential to be promoted in our market and should form a standalone destination on our tourism venues. Just a short flight away, it makes for a perfect getaway, and now that they have the Warner Bros. from USA and Louvre from France into our neighbourhood, it is all the more attractive.”

He also said that the opportunity to meet and network with the Abu Dhabi’s tourism stakeholders will provide TAFI members to promote the wide and varied holidays that Abu Dhabi has to offer. “We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the due potential about Abu Dhabi percolates in the tourism discourse in India,” Shah assured.

TAFI Convention 2018 was hosted by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). It was supported by Etihad Airways, Jet Airways, IndiGo Airlines, Emirates Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. Royal Arabian was the DMC partner that handled the logistics in Abu Dhabi.