Emirati city to put Indians on cruise liners |
Traditionally, the well-heeled Indian would travel for leisure to destinations in Europe and South East Asia. However, in the last 18 months, there has been a big spurt in Indians travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This has been primarily due to a stronger dollar (which means better currency exchange rates for tourists), falling oil prices and a rising supply of available hotel rooms. Proximity to India makes the UAE a good option for a short vacation - good as a weekend getaway or even as a week-long break. There are a variety of new attractions and experiences that have come up both in Abu Dhabi and Dubai making it a great option for repeat visitors. Dubai has attracted the lion`s share of tourists flowing in to the UAE, but the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi is working hard to present itself as an alternative destination in the region. Last year, a record three million tourists visited the Emirate, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi). And this year, that number is expected to rise about 25%. Indians rank first on the list of guests in Abu Dhabi hotels. Abu Dhabi now boasts of the Arabian Gulf`s only dedicated desert island cruise stopover - the Sir Bani Yas island. The cruise beach was formally opened in December 2016 and the island has already been voted the `Word`s leading sustainable tourism destination` at the World Travel Awards.
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