Etihad Airways is aiming to lure more tourists to Abu Dhabi and encourage business travellers to extend their trips by launching a company to organise tours, desert safaris, hotel stays and other services.
The company, Hala Abu Dhabi, will be based in the capital but its services will be offered nationwide. More than half of the tourism professionals working for the company are Emiratis, Etihad said.
"This appears to be a smart move on the part of Etihad for a number of reasons," said Rohit Talwar, the chief executive of the consultancy Fast Future, based in London.
"Etihad is developing a growing global reputation as an award-winning airline and this is attracting people to it who may not even know that it is Abu Dhabi-based.
"Having an inhouse destination management company offers the potential to pass customers through for a full service travel offering.
"As Abu Dhabi gains more visibility and develops a wider range of leisure attractions, so the interest in visiting it will increase. A growing number of visitors will want to do multi-stop trips, taking in different emirates and other Gulf states. Having a destination management company that can service such demand makes a lot of sense."
Abu Dhabi is aiming to attract 2.3 million hotel guests a year by 2012, up from about 1.5 million last year. This year it expects to host more than 1.6 million guests. The capital is investing heavily in the expansion of its tourism infrastructure and attractions, with multibillion-dirham developments such as Yas Island, the location of the Yas Marina Circuit, and Saadiyat Island, where the Guggenheim and Louvre museums will be located.
A destination management company promotes a city or country, working with tour operators, conference organisers and cruise companies.
It also organises tourism-related activities in the destination, including hotels, transport, tours, events and conference venues. The number of hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi increased to 17,500 by the end of last year from 12,800 at the start of the year. Another 5,000 rooms are planned to open in the capital by the end of this year, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority says.
"It is only a good thing," said Frederic Bardin, the senior vice president of Arabian Adventures. "The more promotion of Abu Dhabi the better. They are going to be promoting Abu Dhabi as a hub.
"Of course it is competition, but on the other hand maybe they are going to attract some people that would not have come to Abu Dhabi at all. Abu Dhabi has a lot of potential to become a major destination."
Mr Bardin said he was more concerned about the enormous number of tour operators registered in Dubai, many of which lacked the experience and qualifications to act as destination management companies.
Arabian Adventures, a destination management company that is part of the Emirates Group in Dubai, was set up 1987. It has more than 160 tours and excursions on average each week.
More than 3 million customers have taken part in events or excursions with Arabian Adventures, the company said, adding that this was growing by about 200,000 a year.
@Email:rbundhun@thenational.ae
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
