Etihad Airways and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) are celebrating the success of the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which saw a significant increase in international visitors in the first half of 2024. The programme welcomed 24,000 visitors, compared to 7,000 in the latter half of 2023, marking a 242 per cent increase. This initiative has played a vital role in boosting Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector, surpassing expectations and showcasing the emirate’s appeal as a destination.
Exclusive to Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme has experienced remarkable growth since its inception. With growing demand and increased bookings for the second half of the year, the initiative is on track to achieve its target of attracting 75,000 international stopover visitors in 2024. Travellers have embraced the opportunity to explore Abu Dhabi, with an average stay of two nights. The programme has been particularly popular among visitors from key markets such as England, the USA, Australia, EU countries, and India.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, expressed his delight at the programme’s success, noting that the growth has exceeded projections. He emphasized the effectiveness of the initiative in encouraging travellers to experience the wonders of Abu Dhabi, highlighting the appeal of the destination to international visitors. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director-General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, praised the power of strategic partnerships in driving tourism growth and emphasized the programme’s success in attracting international travellers to explore the emirate.
Enhancements to the booking process, including a new user-friendly landing page on etihad.com, have further boosted the programme’s popularity. This has resulted in a 43 percent increase in web traffic from potential visitors seeking information about Abu Dhabi. The success of the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme reinforces the emirate’s position as a must-visit destination and encourages travellers to plan longer stays in the future, contributing to the growth of Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector. The programme’s success is a testament to the appeal of Abu Dhabi as a travel destination and the effectiveness of partnerships in driving tourism growth.
