Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has announced the appointment of specialist South African travel representation agency Development Promotions to represent the destination in South Africa.
Development Promotions will work to position Abu Dhabi as a preferred destination among the travel trade, consumer and media focusing on the leisure, business and MICE segments to showcase, among others, the destination’s strong cultural, gastronomic, shopping, sports and activities, as well as business and investment opportunities and assets. Development Promotions will launch a dedicated Johannesburg office headed by former Cruises International commercial manager Tracey Krog, who will be assisted from a public relations and communications perspective by Cape Town-based Big Ambitions director Natalia Rosa.
A sales executive will be appointed to liaise closely with the travel industry and MICE trade. TCA Abu Dhabi South Africa will promote Abu Dhabi through training sessions and joint marketing partnerships with key travel agents, tour operators, PCOs and incentive houses, as well as host a range of familiarisation tours for both media and trade.
The destination’s diversity will be showcased through a series of exciting consumer and trade activations. The addition of the South African office, which brings to 11 the number of overseas offices marketing destination Abu Dhabi worldwide, comes as South African Airways announces daily flights between Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi from March, adding additional air capacity to the daily frequency already operated by Etihad Airlines.
“It is in direct response to this opportunity presented by an increase in airlift from the region and increased demand that TCA Abu Dhabi has launched this outbound tourism promotional drive from Africa,” says Sultan Al Dhaheri, TCA Abu Dhabi’s Acting Executive Director Tourism. While a great deal of focus will be placed on the traditional leisure, business, VFR and MICE segments, TCA Abu Dhabi South Africa have a unique opportunity to build South Africa’s stopover, cruising and Halal Tourism market showcasing, among other experiences and attractions.
“We are excited about the opportunity to market such a diverse and dynamic destination in the South African market,” says Development Promotions MD Jackie Adami. TCA Abu Dhabi will be sending a delegation to the upcoming World Travel Market Africa event to which the travel industry is invited, being held in Cape Town from 15 to 17 April, 2015.
