Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADDH) and one of Europe’s leading tour operators, FTI Group, have formalised plans to partner to boost visitor numbers to the UAE capital.
Under the terms of the agreement, collaboration will focus on increasing the number of visitors to Abu Dhabi from key European markets, including the UK, France and Germany.
ADDH said it is set to inject 100 million euros ($111 million) in FTI Group which will also help expand the firm’s worldwide business outreach and enhance its vertical integration strategy across key tourism segments including tour operation, destinations management, own content and distribution.
FTI Group is currently the third largest tour operator in Europe with multiple owned and operated assets, including 70 hotels.
Mohamed Al Suwaidi, CEO of ADDH, said: “Our strategic partnership with FTI Group reflects our wider commitment, in alignment with the Abu Dhabi Government, to support the emirate’s ambition in the tourism sector.
“The collaboration will not only create many opportunities to enhance Abu Dhabi’s sustainable tourism sector, but it aligns with our mandate to further develop sectors of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil economy.”
Dietmar Gunz, CEO of FTI Group, added: “As a tour operator with a global footprint and an operational presence in the UAE for almost a decade, we are proud to sign an agreement with ADDH, one of the emirate’s largest holding companies, to further showcase the best of Abu Dhabi’s expansive tourism offerings to our customers.”
According to recent data from the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi welcomed close to 3.8 million hotel guests in the first nine months of the year, a 2.9 percent increase on the same period last year. Hotel occupancy in Abu Dhabi rose 4 percent to 69 percent this year and average length of stay grew by 5.6%, equating to 2.5 nights.
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