Abu Dhabi to host OTB ’17

This September, high-end UAE outbound travel agents and buyers will come together at the InterContinental Hotel Abu Dhabi for Outbound Travel Bazaar (OTB).

The number of outbound trips from the UAE increased by 5 per cent to 3.5 million last year, with those travellers spending Dh71 billion, up 10 per cent in 2014. UAE residents travelled for longer and spent more in 2015, according to Euromonitor International.

Every year, agents are seeking new outbound destinations to promote for the many travellers, both local and expatriate, from all emirates. The planning for the next summer travel season begins at least a year in advance so that the logistics and special programmes can be arranged well in time to be included in the campaigns. Outbound Travel Bazaar, to be held on September 21, will provide an opportunity for all travel professionals to come together and explore the many opportunities to work towards ensuring a steady growth of business.

Mario Anthony, Owner and Managing Director, Luxury Connections, organisers of the event, stated that they have already received a very good response for the event and expect strong participation. According to him, some of the sellers who’d be present at this year’s event will be Thailand, Singapore, Finland, South Africa, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Cambodia, Zanzibar, Georgia and Korea.

Some of the agents include dnata Holidays, Emirates Holidays, Al Rostamani Travels, Kanoo Travels, Al Futtaim Travels, SNTTA Emir Tour, Travco Group, GTA, MIKI Travels, Satguru, TBO, Nirvana Travel and Tourism, Omeir Travel Agency and top corporate travel accounts such as Pfizer, Arenco, ADNOC, NOC, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, Unilever and EMAAR, DAMAC, and Abu Dhabi Police. They have extended an invitation to other major outbound agents in all emirates such as Sharjah, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah.

Anthony said, “After a successful event in Vietnam we decided to host it in Abu Dhabi this year to ensure more participation from all seven emirates. It will include special B2B sessions with all sellers and every buyer and seller will have enough time to talk business and ensure that it is lucrative.”