Wednesday, October 2, 2024 Etihad Airways, the flagship carrier of the United Arab Emirates, along with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is celebrating the remarkable success of their Abu Dhabi Stopover programme. Since its relaunch, the initiative has far surpassed expectations, providing a significant boost to the emirate’s tourism industry. Exclusive to Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme has experienced impressive growth since its revival.
In the first half of 2024, the programme attracted 24,000 international visitors, a dramatic increase from the 7,000 visitors in the second half of 2023, representing a staggering 242% growth. With continued strong demand and a rise in bookings anticipated for the remainder of the year, the programme is on course to meet its ambitious goal of welcoming 75,000 international stopover visitors in 2024. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways , said: “The growth of our Abu Dhabi Stopover programme has far exceeded our projections.
We’ve seen international visitors more than triple in just six months. This success not only showcases Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a destination but also demonstrates the programme’s effectiveness in encouraging travellers to experience the emirate’s wonders.” Travelers are seizing the chance to explore Abu Dhabi, staying for an average of two nights.
The programme has garnered significant interest from major markets, including the UK, USA,.