’Welcome to The World’ (welcometotheworld.com) is the first customer generated online global travel and tourism video platform, where users book directly with suppliers and bypass commission-driven aggregators – has launched a dedicated ‘Welcome to Abu Dhabi’ page.
The platform’s new Welcome to Abu Dhabi initiative brings together support from key tourism providers in the emirate, including the Qasr Al Hosn national monument experience operated by the Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi, Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa, the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island hotel, and Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers.
The website which is seeing an average monthly online reach of 10.3 million, is expected to help “stimulate” the emirate’s post-pandemic tourism renaissance, according to Stefanie Schachtschabel, Founder & CEO of Welcometotheworld.com.
“This is a timely initiative which will help stimulate Abu Dhabi’s post-pandemic tourism recovery,” explained Schachtschabel. “We are mobilizing the platform’s expanding stakeholder base to jointly promote Abu Dhabi and give power back to travel and tourism industry operators. We passionately believe that by inspiring, welcoming and directly connecting travelers to Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s tourism sector can thrive sustainably.”
Schachtschabel says the launch underpins the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) call for action to revitalize the industry following its 2020 global losses of $3.8 billion, and to stave off further losses which WTTC predicts could reach $4.7 billion if not urgently addressed.
“Travel and tourism needs an unprecedented boost with public and private partnerships crucial to recovery and domestic tourism essential for short-term revenue streams,” added Martie Daems, Managing Partner for Welcome to The UAE, the first franchise of welcometotheworld.com. “We are convinced of the power of digital conversion and video’s potential to build trust. We believe Welcome to Abu Dhabi will aid the local recovery process.”
‘Tourism 365’, launched under Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company’s (ADNEC) broad new role in supporting the growth of the emirate as a tourism destination, has jumped onboard as a key partner for Welcome to Abu Dhabi.
“With ‘Tourism 365’ we are focusing on creating experiential travel opportunities for tourists coming to Abu Dhabi. Platforms such as Welcome to Abu Dhabi will help enhance the emirate’s regional and global visibility, as well as stimulate the tourism sector locally. Co-operations with like-minded companies is vital to support the growth of Abu Dhabi as a tourism destination,” said Roula Jouny, Executive Director, Tourism 365.
Welcometotheworld.com unites tourism sector providers in 175 global destinations to jointly attract and welcome travelers to destinations by gathering local influencer content curated by themselves . It will now showcase Abu Dhabi’s popular and recommended hotels, restaurants, attractions, and experiences to the platform’s current audience base, of which the 54.8 per cent majority comes from Asia and Europe.
Members can create online merchant profiles via a free-of-charge option or a fixed yearly fee which leverages the platform’s content revitalization features, while travelers sign up for free to become members and unlock welcoming benefits.
