Unveiled: ‘Welcome to Abu Dhabi’ video content platform to turbo-boost tourism recovery

Welcome to The World, the first customer generated online global travel and tourism video platform, where users book directly with suppliers and bypass commission-driven aggregators to access membership rewards and benefits – has launched a dedicated Welcome to Abu Dhabi page.

The platform’s new Welcome to Abu Dhabi initiative has won anchor 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.

Sitting under the platform’s UAE country page, which is notching up an average monthly online reach of 10.3 million, Welcome to Abu Dhabi is expected to help stimulate the emirate’s post-pandemic tourism renaissance, according to Stefanie Schachtschabel, founder and CEO of Welcometotheworld.com.

“This is a timely initiative which will help stimulate Abu Dhabi’s post-pandemic tourism recovery,” explained Schachtschabel. “We are mobilising 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 revitalise the industry following its 2020 global losses of USD 3.8 billion, and to stave off further losses which WTTC predicts could reach US $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’, which was recently 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.