Abu Dhabi has the potential to become a leading intra-regional tourism destination from Jordan according to a delegation of travel industry leaders on a recent whistle-stop visit to the emirate.

Citing a combination of first-class infrastructural development, high-quality accommodation, an expanding array of family attractions and increasing air access, the Jordanian operators believe the emirate can gain a larger slice of outbound travel from the Kingdom.

The 11-strong trade delegation – guests of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authorrity (TCA Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Airways - visited many of the emirate's top attractions including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - ranked by TripAdvisor as the world's second most recommended landmark in its recent Travellers Choice Awards; and Yas Island - the emirate's entertainment destination - for first-hand experiences of the world's largest indoor theme park Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the award-winning Yas Waterworld aqua park and the iconic Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, the only hotel in the world to straddle a formula one race track.

We have seen year-on-year hotel guest arrivals growth from Arab non-GCC markets of 20%, and with Jordan's performance outstripping this average, it remains something of a sleeping giant which is prime for further growth, said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of Promotions & Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.

This largely untapped potential persuaded us to stage our first inbound familiarisation of Jordanian travel trade who will help us convert further business from the Kingdom.

Abu Dhabi's family attractions are key to attracting the Jordanian traveller, according to Loai Naswari General Manager of Beit Almakdes Travel. It's clear that you can spend a day at each of Yas Island's theme parks so I will encourage clients to stay longer to enjoy everything else the emirate has to offer. The children will love it!â€‌ he said.

The delegation also explored some of the UAE capital’s conference hotels including Emirates Palace, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers and The St. Regis Abu Dhabi each offering panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf; the monumental The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal and beachfront Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi hotels overlooking the Khor Al Maqta sea channel in sight of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; and the Rosewood Abu Dhabi at Sowwah Square, home to The Galleria, the capital's new luxury shopping and dining destination and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the multi-specialty medical centre which is due to open in 2016.

Jamila Al-Sadi, Head of Corporate Travel at Amman based International Traders, was left in no doubt about the business potential. Im excited about opportunities associated with medical and religious tourism which will appeal to travellers from Jordan and think my clients will consider the fact that Abu Dhabi is not over-crowded as a positive factor when compared to other regional tourism hubs, she said.

“I can also see business potential by shifting business into Abu Dhabi to take advantage of the state-of-the-art conferencing facilities we have seen at some of the capital's hotels.

Jordan has emerged as one of the emirates top ten performers in terms of guest arrivals and nights, attracting 64,559 visitors in 2013. According to TCA Abu Dhabi figures, the emirate has welcomed 43,632 Jordanian hotel guests in the first seven months of this year, up 27% on the same period in 2013. Guest nights rose 24% over the same period year-on-year to 119,706, with average length of stay hovering at 2.7 nights.

And TCA Abu Dhabi believes that the introduction of July's increased flight capacity from national airline Etihad Airways, coupled with the emirate's broadening leisure product and events programme will prompt increased interest from the Kingdom, and attract a growing number of short break visitors.

Etihad Airways now operates three daily flights from Amman to Abu Dhabi International Airport. There is significant stopover potential from corporate travellers who tend to transit to other destinations with Etihad via Abu Dhabi,â€‌ added Al Nuaimi. 

In addition, Royal Jordanian offers 12 flights a week between Amman and Abu Dhabi.

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