Abu Dhabi participation at WTM 2006 underscores depth of UAE-UK ties

The British envoy pointed out that the UAE ranked ninth for the fifth year in a row among the top 10 trade partners for the United Kingdom, with British exports reaching 5.4 billion Sterling punds in 2005.

"We are looking forward to increasing this figure during 2006. The UAE is the largest British trade partner in the region and the ninth in the world in terms of exports volume", said Oakden, adding that there are over 135 flights weekly between the UAE and UK. This air traffic flow, said the ambassador, stand as a glaring testimony to the strength and depth of bilateral economic ties.

Oakden further noted that the UAE is home for over 120 British nationals, with over 800,000 having visited the UAE last year, either for leisure or job. On the hand, over 430,000 visitors from the UAE visited the UK last year for leisure, trade or investment.

"These figures are set to increase, particularly after the ADTA opened its representative office in London early this year to embark on promoting the UAE within the British tourism and leisure circles", said Oakden, adding that the ADTA move had encouraged around 40 travel and tourism agents in Britain to focus on Abu Dhabi as a leading tourism destination noted for its round-the-year sunshine, hundreds of exotic islands, elegant beaches, captivating deserts and out-of-the-world Arabian hospitality.

The British envoy noted that British Airways has had a long standing history of cooperation with Abu Dhabi Emirate and that this partnership has now been reinforced with the emergence of Etihad airways which operates flights to three different destinations in the UK. Meanwhile, British visitors to Abu Dhabi find the United Kingdom well represented in the emirate in terms of hotels owned or staffed by the British. This is in addition to strong British presence in the exhibitions sector or other development sector in the emirate.

Ambassador Oakden concluded his remarks by expressing his wishes for every success to Abu Dhabi's participation at the WTM.

The Emirate is participating on the 27th round of the WTM alongside a record breaking 5, 600 travel industry firms, representing 202 countries and regions. Spearheaded by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Abu Dhabi will stage an island-like pavilion comprising over 140 stands stretching over an area of 403 sq.
Staged annually in London under one roof, World Travel Market is business to business exhibition and also introduces delegates to a fresh and innovative dimension into the travel and tourism industry. The event is dubbed as one of the largest tourism gatherings in the world and is attended by an elite of travel and tourism specialists, tourism projects developers, tourism agents, travel and tour operators, aviation companies, festival and conference organizers and many others. It also attracts thousands of policy and decision makers in the industry worldwide.

The Abu Dhabi pavilion comprises five major stands for the industry heavyweights, namely the Abu Dhabi Airport Company, Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company, Dana Hotels and Resorts, Emirates Palace Hotel, Etihad airways in addition to 24 other names such as Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Alpha Tours, Crown Plaza, Desert Adventures etc.

Some 20,000 industry specialists are participating in the exhibition along with media delegates from 3000 organizations. The number of visitors is expected to increase to 25,000 visitors.