Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director, Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, says India being largest MICE source market for Abu Dhabi in 2022, they have been revamping their earlier initiatives and launched Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives 2.0 programme.

Janice Alyosius

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi participated at the India Roadshow in Delhi and Mumbai, promoting the emirate as a destination for MICE travel. Coinsiding with the events, Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the agency representing the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, unveiled its Advantage Abu Dhabi (AAD) Meetings & Incentives (M&I) 2.0 programme to stimulate MICE activities to the region and offer more “value-adds and additional benefits” to the stakeholders in order to become more competitive. Post-pandemic, the bureau has adapted its approach to MICE activities, revamping previous initiatives and creatively joining forces with partners to drive further growth.

AAD M&I 2.0 programme

AAD M&I 2.0 programme is an incentive scheme created by the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau. “The scheme is created to help our partners, clients to push more business events toward the destination. The scheme itself has so many different verticals into it that focus on different elements of the MICE industry. India is one of the most important source markets that we are pushing from a MICE perspective to the destination. We made sure the incentive schemes of Abu Dhabi Convention Exhibition Bureau are tailor-made for the source markets,” revealed Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director, Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Tapping MICE segment in India

The bureau has conducted meetings in India that reflect the strong MICE demand coming from the country into the destination. The incentive programme was made to strengthen the partnerships with clients in India, and to provide a tool to help them bring in more events to the destination. “The programme is tailor-made to the needs of our clients and how we can provide extra support to them to have a great value for their clients, who are coming to the destination, and at the same time supporting the agencies that bring clients to the destination,” he said.

Outlook for Indian market

Emphasising on the outlook for Indian market, Shamisi said, “India is an important source market for Abu Dhabi; cooperate and incentive business from India is very strong. We have started focusing on destination weddings also, which is also an important segment that we are looking into.”

MICE trends

The trends have changed post-pandemic and there is a need for the industry to be flexible and adapt the changes. The Abu Dhabi bureau is working to understand the new trends. They are engaging with their clients and getting their feedback to understand how can they help them make business events earlier coming to the destination rebound strongly. “The negotiations with our clients in India and other source markets resulted in the creation of the 2.0 incentive scheme of Abu Dhabi. The aim is to be very customised and cater to their requirements in the current situation. The industry has come back strongly, we have seen a lot of appeals, a lot of demand from the Indian market coming into the destination from the business events perspective, and this is something really positive for the destination. Now, we are working with our clients, we are here in India in the three major cities in India – New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai – to focus on our clients, to see them face to face here,” said Shamisi.

Incentivising trade

Speaking about the AAD M&I 2.0 programme, Shamisi said that the incentive programme is an umbrella of the incentive scheme. It provides different incentives for different clients. “When we say clients, we go directly to the groups who are coming and incentivising them. We are also incentivising the travel agencies that are working with us to strongly push Abu Dhabi. The mechanism and the way the incentive programme is being implemented makes sure that they get some benefits of driving the business towards the destination. In Abu Dhabi, we recognise loyalty and value partnership,” he said.

Tapping wedding segment

Shamisi said, “We are in the final stages of launching our wedding destination strategy, which we will announce soon. Destination wedding has been rewarding for Oman in the past years; we have seen a lot of weddings happening in the country to an extent that we need to recognise it, we need to work closely with clients, wedding planners and families to create an ecosystem that looks appealing for the destination weddings.”

Continuing with its series of webinars to help the travel trade discover Spain, the Tourism Office of Spain – Mumbai, along with Valencia Tourism, recently conducted a webinar titled ‘Know Valencia’.

TT Bureau

A place full of contrasts awaits the visitor with a charming old town next to futuristic buildings. This is Valencia, one of Spain’s most welcoming cities. Beyond the cultural effervescence of its cities, a stroll is always a good idea, or bathing at its Mediterranean beaches. Of course, you must try the star dish, paella (true authenticity!) and other delicacies such as clams or tiger nut milk.

Valencia is located on Spain’s eastern coast, on the shores of the Mediterranean – a stretch of water which has gradually forged the city’s character over the centuries. Valencia’s location makes it an excellent operational base from which to explore the rest of Spain. At just an hour and a half from Madrid by train, three hours from Barcelona by car, and with daily departures to the Balearic Islands, the capital of the Mediterranean is well worth a visit. Bask in the city’s pleasant climate, stroll along its wide sandy beaches, just 15 minutes from the centre of Valencia, catch a glimpse of its past, sample the local cuisine and discover the richness of its culture.

Any time is a good time to visit Valencia, although if there is one day that is even more special than the rest, it’s 19th March, when they celebrate the famous Fallas by burning gigantic ‘cardboard sculptures’. Its Mediterranean light, mild climate and the bewitching fire make this a city you’ll want to stay in.

WINNERS SPEAK

Congratulations to the two Winners of Spain Specialist Program (SSP) – Know Valencia Quiz held on September 6, 2022. They take away a five-day trip to Valencia (inclusive of international airfare) in November 2022.

Dorothy Albuquerque, Travco Holidays

It is rightly said hard earned joys are the sweetest. I have been selling and promoting Spain for little over 20 years but a first time to enroll for the Spain Specialist Programme (SSP) to know in-depth about Spain, post which I have actually won a trip to Spain, how exciting! A programme worth enrolling to enhance your skills and improve your selling efficiency. SSP is a well curated programme, which is simple, engaging and exciting, giving you in-depth knowledge about Spain, its regions and topography. The SSP programme enforces the rich regional culture, the magnificent monuments, museums, churches, architectures, efficient transportation, traditional festivities, and many more exciting topics about Spain, making you fall in love with the country.

Mekhla Chandra, Away&Co

The webinar held on 6th September 2022 for Valencia region of Spain was informative and covered all that one needs to know before travelling. The question and answer session was very interactive and it gave the audience a chance to clarify their doubts. There is so much more to Valencia than I knew before this webinar. Moreover, the frequent reminders by the DDP team that organised the webinar were helpful and I did not miss it. The Spain Specialist Program (SSP) is excellent. It has everything that one needs to know about Spain – right from gastronomy, history, geographical locations, sports, events and festivals – of Spain. It is very comprehensive, user friendly and fun with all the quiz questions. It is one of the best tools for any travel agent selling Spain.

India is ‘very important’ source market for the Sultanate of Oman, says Asma Al-Hajri, Deputy Director General, Tourism Promotions, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman. She shares USPs of the destination that will surely inspire Indian tourists.

Janice Alyosius

With the tourist footfalls from foreign countries increasing, tourism in the Sultanate of Oman is recovering fast. To cater to the growing number of tourists and further promote the destination, Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism conducted a special promotional roadshow in five major source cities of India from 22 to 29 August 2022. The roadshow comprised a delegation from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, tour operators, hotels and airlines.

Speaking about the destination, Asma Al-Hajri, Deputy Director General, Tourism Promotions, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, said that Oman is blessed with nature, culture and adventure, and that is the unique selling point of the destination. “We are optimistic about the number of tourist arrivals this year and targeting to reach the pre-pandemic levels,” she said.

Oman received around 167,678 Indian travellers this year from January to July. Asma said that their focus is on providing quality experience to the visitors. “Oman is not a mass tourism destination. So, we are looking for the quality and responsible travellers to make sure that our country is preserved and respected, our culture and history is not destroyed,” she said.

No restrictions

She underlined the fact that Oman is COVID-free and there are no travel restrictions at present. “Indian travellers can apply for a visa on arrival, for 14 days and must book a hotel room in advance. They must have health insurance and a local manager who can manage their visit,” she said.

Asma said, “India is a very important market for us. We have seen a good growth before pandemic, and in the first seven months this year, we have received around 167,000 Indian travellers already. There is a strong relationship between the two countries and there is similarity in cultures as well, which adds to the reason why Indians should visit Oman.”

She said that during the roadshow in India she came to know that Indian tourists are evolving and so are their expectations. They seek to explore the destination more deeply. They are looking for experiences rather than classic tours, and that is what all of Oman has to offer. “It’s an experiential destination, wherever you go in Oman, you will have different experiences. There is culture and history to explore, there is adventure to enjoy, there is everything, I would say, what Indian travellers are looking for.”

She revealed that currently there are more than 600 3-star or higher ranked hotels in Oman and they expect close to 29,000 rooms in the country by 2023. “We are looking into the Indian travellers’ five nights to six nights stay at present. Since Oman is blessed with geographical beauty, and is a vast destination, the overnight stay could be easily extended to 10 nights.”

Wedding destination

She said, “We also seek to promote Oman as an attractive destination for weddings as this is one of the growing tourism segments, especially for visitors from India. With its pristine nature, picturesque beaches and unique architecture, Oman has seen many Indian weddings.”

Travellers’ behaviour

Speaking about the pandemic induced changes, she said, “We have seen a shift in people’s behaviour when it comes to travelling. Looking into the post-pandemic travellers’ behaviour, I would say, they have become more independent. People love to travel on their own. They are choosing independent trips rather than the arranged groups trips. This is an advantage for Oman because Oman is an experiencial destination. People come to Oman, they visit mountains, explore the local villages (souks), and enjoy the culture and other things that the destination offers. So, destination incentives are well-suited to the new trends. In addition, Oman is a safe country to travel, travellers feel at home.”

She added, “I would like to re-emphasise on the importance of the Indian market in Oman. Since there are similarities in the culture of India and Oman, Indian travellers would not feel uncomfortable in Oman. Wherever they go, they feel they are a part of the country. When it comes to food, the Indian food is very much available everywhere. The language can be easily understood. And the most important is the experiences. People these days are looking for experiences rather than arranged or traditional trips. So, experience is something that everyone these days is looking for, and that is what you will find in Oman.”

New Delhi: Cross Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to introduce travelers to Cross River Kwai, one of Kanchanaburi’s most-talked-about riverside hotels with themed guest rooms and floating cabins.

The Fallingwater Pool Villas has one and two-bedroom rooms, the latest in hand-crafted luxurious accommodation. Each of the 10 multi-storey units are blessed with spectacular scenery and Tenasserim mountain range. It is along the stretch of Kwai Noi River.

Cross River Kwai is surrounded by with green, mature trees, towering bamboo, and native flora and fauna giving the retreat a balanced natural ambience. The resort incorporates elements unique to Kanchanaburi and the town’s history and strategic location. The Fallingwater Pool Villas expands the nature-inspired narrative of Cross River Kwai and pays homage to Erawan Falls in the nearby Erawan National Park.

From the comfort of their living room, guests can plunge into the indoor-outdoor swimming pool or sit back and feast their eyes upon the beautiful countryside. The living area opens onto a private deck with comfortable sun loungers overlooking the majestic river. The master bedroom features floor to ceiling windows that offer unobstructed view of the river and mountains that blend with natural features.

Guests can go on an excursion to Kanchanaburi’s Bridge over the River Kwai, visit Death Railway museum or Erawan National Park. They can also visit the town centre or participate in activities at the resort. Alternatively, they can sit back and admire nature in all its infinite beauty. The hotel currently operates 26 hotels in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan under five distinct brands: Cross, Cross Vibe, Away, Lumen, and Cross Collection.

Sun International, an internationally renowned hotel brand with several hotels in South Africa, is excited to host Indian weddings and has made special arrangements for the Indian guests.

TT Bureau

Sun International, an internationally renowned hotel brand, has hotels in “all regions” of South Africa.  The hotels of Sun International have amenities to host guests from all segments, be it MICE, leisure, FITs or weddings, shares Shereen Allaman, Vice President, International Sales and Marketing, Sun International.

“We are excited to inform all our partners within India and other regions that the Palace of the Lost City is undergoing a complete renovation. We started this during the lockdown, and it should be completed by October, which is precisely our Diwali period. We are ensuring that when our clients arrive at the Palace of the Lost City at Sun City, they see a new hotel and enjoy the new facilities,” she says.

Outlook for Indian market

Allaman further shares, “The Indian market has always been important for Sun International over the years, and we continue to maintain this good relationship. We want to say that we are grateful to this market for the continued support we have received and that is why I took the time to visit the various regions within India to showcase what Sun International has to offer now and to ensure that we bring in that business and hold that relationship steady.”

Eye on Indian weddings

Elaborating further on the India visit, she adds, “My mandate right now is to ensure that we bring in South Africa as a destination for weddings. We are completely equipped to handle an Indian wedding in Sun City.” She further adds, “For Indian travellers, gastronomy is of the utmost importance, so we ensure that we do have Indian executive chefs at our properties, making sure that we are including at least a minimum of two or three authentic Indian dishes within our breakfast offerings. It is important for us to offer Jain kitchen access because we want to ensure that when our Indian guests come through, they are comfortable.”

New Delhi: The Centre, which combines nearly 90 boutiques, has also broken visitor records this summer, surpassing the two million mark.

McArthurGlen, Malaga’s large outlet located next to Plaza Mayor, closes its best summer ever. And it does so both in terms of sales growth – with an increase of 36% – and the number of visitors, which, with 2.2 million, represents a growth of 30% compared to the same period last year, between 1st of June and 31st of August. “We are very satisfied with these figures, which show that we have consolidated our position in the province just within two years,” says Javier Mendizabal, head of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Málaga.

The Centre has thus become a great economic engine for the area. As for the origin of international visitors, it is worth noting that most of them come from Morocco, the Middle East – especially Kuwait – and the United Kingdom.

The balance of the summer shows other interesting data, such as the increase in sales in the luxury and premium segments, which shows that customers are largely opting for higher quality items.

“Thanks to discounts, this means enjoying good value for money and more responsible consumption, with purchases that last longer in the wardrobe,” adds Mendizabal.

In addition to existing brands such as Prada, Roberto Cavalli and Ermenegildo Zegna, among others, it is worth mentioning the recent opening of the French brand Moncler, which specialises in haute couture and pret-a-porter outerwear. There are now 90 boutiques in this area, which employs a total of 630 professionals in the sector.

The Centre, which will be open from Monday to Sunday until 30 September, is almost fully occupied. However, it will culminate with the forthcoming opening of two brands that are sure to arouse great expectation among visitors: Purificacion Garcia and Carolina Herrera.

Committed space

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Málaga is a shopping, leisure and experience space committed to art – it is a friend of the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga – sustainability and the environment. In this line, says Mendizábal, the Centre continues in the process of reducing to zero the waste to landfill with the objective set in December for its certification.

Along the same lines, work is being done to create new shaded areas to improve the shopping experience and customer visits. Smart water meters are also being installed to reduce water consumption in the centre and to detect possible leaks in real time. Similarly, he adds, the team continues to work towards BREEAM certification, the benchmark sustainable building certification.

In the same way, the Centre will soon announce actions that are part of the celebration of the International Day against Climate Change and that it will share with its visitors to add initiatives that help to promote and disseminate the need to take care of our environment.

New Delhi: The Sultanate of Oman encourages tourists to come and discover the country and enjoy several of its attractions.

As the second-largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, Oman has a variety of topographical features such as valleys between rugged mountain ranges. These are between terraced orchards where pomegranates, apricots, and roses grow, and stretches of a vast plain with desert peppered with wadis. Oman’s cities line up along the coast.

Before the 1970s, Oman was a major port for travelers, which resulted in assimilation of several cultures into its own. It was Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said who unified Oman’s national identity thus creating the Sultanate’s unique and welcoming culture.

An estimated 75 per cent of the population practice a branch of Islam known as Ibadism. In keeping with the austere nature of Ibadism, Oman’s mosques are simple and are not at all decorated. High in religious tolerance, non-Muslim religious communities in Oman include Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists, and Christians. Nestled below craggy mountains, Muscat is one of Oman’s oldest, picturesque, and largest cities.

Oman is synonymous with perfume and forms an integral part of Omani culture of daily life and festivals. It is made with locally sourced ingredients such as frankincense, myrrh, and rose water. One can get a first-hand look at some of the fragrant perfume at some of biggest brands in Oman.

There are many attractions in Oman, which tourists should never give a miss. Some of these include Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, The Royal Opera House, Mutrah Fort, Qurum beach, Bait al Zubair Museum, and Mutrah Souq among others.

Oman also offers a plurality of activities related to the sea. The Dunes Beach Club beach restaurant, located in Sifah, presents a whole new gastronomic experience by the sea. Stunning views and elegant decoration make it an ideal place to enjoy a moment of relaxation over a drink, lunch, or dinner. The splendid eco-resort Six Senses Zighy Bay, located in the Musandam Peninsula, offers a new day trip on their luxury Omani dhow, the Dhahab. Exclusively reserved for its guests, the experience offers navigation along the fjords and coastal villages, nautical activities and a gourmet lunch prepared by the chef on board.

Destination New South Wales has bold aspirations for the India market – to make it one of its biggest international source markets. Steve Cox, CEO, Destination New South Wales, was in India recently to talk to the travel trade and the airlines to address challenges in terms of air connectivity and destination knowledge, and, of course, visa issue.

Hazel Jain

It was his first visit to India, but Steve Cox, CEO, Destination New South Wales (DNSW), seemed like he was among friends. “I met our trade partners in Mumbai and New Delhi before heading back to Sydney. We are looking to target segments across the board from VFR to MICE and leisure travellers,” he says.

Cox was visiting India as a part of the recently-signed interim Free Trade Agreement between India and Australia, and the ongoing trade relations. The visit was followed by a tourism roundtable with airline partners and tourism trade partners.

Speaking about the roundtable, he says, “It was to talk about our aspirations, about growing our visitor economy between India and New South Wales. We have bold aspirations; we think there is enormous opportunity for operators on both sides. It also about listening to the challenges and the opportunities from our trade partners and airlines, so we can understand the things we need to do to ensure higher numbers.”

The roundtable had 12-14 travel agents, along with a small representation from the airlines. Some common issues came through. “Visas was one of them; the processing time has certainly improved in recent times, but more importantly the issues have been about long-term visas and to possibly offer Indian visitors a longer visa period. However, it is not a state issue and a federal issue. But we will ensure this feedback is taken back to the federal government,” Cox shares.

Another key discussion was around aviation – the number of flights, particularly direct flights, between India and NSW. “We are excited that there is a new flight from Qantas launching in September this year from Bengaluru to Sydney. We are talking to airlines, both here and Australia and encouraging them to get flights on ground,” he reveals.

Sydney now has a brand-new international airport opening in December 2026. This, Cox believes, will be an absolute game-changer for the number of Indian passengers that could be processed at Sydney airport. The second airport will be a 24-hour airport.

Here for the long haul

Cox says, “We are here for the long-haul. The numbers into NSW at the end of 2019 was 440 million AUD worth of visitor expenditure from India. I expect at least a 20 per cent growth every year in the numbers from India to NSW for the next 10 years. That is our target. India is a high repeat visitation market for NSW. India’s ranking as an international source market is currently in the top 10, but we are nowhere close to what is possible. I believe India can be the number one source destination for Australia over the years to come. We have a visitor economy strategy 2030 that sets a really clear vision – we want NSW to be the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific, and for that to happen we want to see India grow up to where it should be. It will be either number one or two. In the long term I have absolutely no doubt that India can be the largest market for us, but it has a long way to go.”

Tourism New Zealand welcomed 15 buyers from India at the first in-person trade event after two years – Kiwi Link Asia 2022. The event was held in Singapore from 29 to 31 August 2022. It supported Tourism New Zealand’s bintegrated strategy in Asia on trade events.

TT Bureau

After two-year hiatus, Tourism New Zealand’s iconic trade event, Kiwi Link returned this year to reconnect travel trade partners from Asia with New Zealand tourism businesses. The trade event, Kiwi Link Asia 2022 was held in Singapore from 29 to 31 August 2022.

The event provided a unique opportunity for representatives of the New Zealand tourism industry to educate and establish business relationships with key travel partners from India, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. From one-on-one appointments with product managers to networking opportunities at official events, Kiwi Link Asia 2022 was the one-stop destination for all things travel related to New Zealand.

Fifteen buyers from India attended the event, which included Thomas Cook India, MakeMyTrip, Kulin Kumar Holidays, Kesari Tours, Veena World, FCM Travels and Pathfinders Holidays. The event saw Indian buyers engaging with 55 industry operators across New Zealand including Air New Zealand, Hobbiton Movie Set, Scenic Hotel Group, giving a holistic understanding of the product offerings and building deeper connections.

Elaborating on the event, Gregg Wafelbakker, General Manager – Asia, Tourism New Zealand, said, “With the New Zealand borders having opened to the rest of the world on 1 August 2022, this was the perfect time to reconnect with the Indian travel trade fraternity to showcase destination New Zealand and the ever-growing Kiwi hospitality. Kiwi Link Asia was a splendid platform that enabled key Indian buyers to reconnect with New Zealand and its wide range of offerings, thus enabling them to promote the destination better and support conversions. We are ecstatic to see the turnout this year and we are looking forward to Summer 22/ 23 and beyond as we welcome back visitors. India is one of the priority emerging markets for Tourism New Zealand and Kiwi Link Asia provided a great opportunity to strengthen our partnership with our travel trade partners in India.” Through the course of three days, Tourism New Zealand and the New Zealand industry engaged with travel sellers.

St. Petersburg holds roadshows in New Delhi and Mumbai to maintain and renew ties with the Indian tourism industry. The destination is now open to Indian tourists with direct flights to Russia and payment mechanisms. It has now plans to open direct flights to St. Petersburg.

TT Bureau

St. Petersburg held a two-city roadshow in Mumbai and New Delhi titled ‘Welcome to St. Petersburg!’, which was attended by a delegation from St. Petersburg. The delegation included representatives of leading tour operators of the city, hotels, as well as the tourist infrastructure of the city. The participants presented the possibilities of the multifaceted St. Petersburg for receiving Indian tourists.

The aim of these roadshows was to maintain and renew ties with the tourism industry in Delhi and Mumbai. St. Petersburg is now open to Indian tourists, and there are direct flights to Russia and payment mechanisms. It also plans to open direct flights to St. Petersburg.

In addition to tour operators from St. Petersburg, representatives of the Embassy and Consular department of the Russian Federation in India were also present. The cycle of events of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg in September-November this year includes the promotion of the city as a tourist destination in the markets of India, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The roadshow in India were organised by the Committee for Tourism Development of Saint Petersburg and the St. Petersburg state budgetary institution City Tourist Information Bureau.