São Paulo – Brazil has joined the route of priorities for travel companies and tourism organizations in Arab countries. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates are some of the countries from which companies and delegates have come to exhibit at the World Travel Market Latin America (WTM), a fair that opened this Tuesday (23rd) in São Paulo. The Arabs attending the event want to attract Brazilian visitors, be it in leisure or business trips.
The director of Promotions and Overseas Offices of the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA), Mubarak Rashed Al Nuaimi, said the organization is taking part in a fair in Brazil for the first time ever because the country’s economy is on the way up. He said his participation is connected with the new direct flight of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways to Brazil, starting next June.
“Brazil has a lot of potential and that is why we are attending. We believe that passenger inflow from Brazil to our region will grow fast,” said Nuaimi. According to the executive, approximately 3,000 Brazilians stayed at Abu Dhabi hotels in 2012, and that should see a twofold increase this year due to Etihad’s flights. “The volume will increase even further in years to come,” he said.
On June 1st, Etihad Airways will begin flying direct between Abu Dhabi and São Paulo three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Nuaimi acknowledges that many passengers on Etihad’s inbound flights from Brazil will not stay in Abu Dhabi, but rather use the emirate as a connection to other destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Oceania. He claims however, that he has “strategies” to persuade these tourists to tour the city. “We can offer promotions such as ‘book two days and win one free,’ and we can present our cultural and tourist attractions,” he said.
Abu Dhabi’s better-known neighbour, Dubai, is also vying for Brazilian tourists. The executive director for Business Tourism at the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Hamad Mohammed Bin Mejren, says the number of Brazilian tourists in Dubai is increasing, but has not reached its full potential yet. In 2012, Dubai received 40,000 Brazilian guests, up 16% from 2011. The Dubai airport saw a throughput of 300,000 Brazilians, up 29% from 2011.
“Brazil is growing a lot. Fifteen companies from Dubai’s travel industry have come to the event along with us, and they all have a strong demand. We are also here to provide guidance to local operators who are having problems regarding visa application procedures, for instance. There are 20 Brazilian companies that wish to join us. Opportunities are available for us,” said Mejren.
The executive ascribes the growing numbers of Brazilian tourists in Dubai to increased flight frequency to the emirate. From 2007 through January 2012, Emirates Airline had a direct flight between Dubai and São Paulo. Since January last year, the company has been flying daily between Dubai and Buenos Aires with stops in Rio de Janeiro. Mejren believes Dubai will also benefit from Etihad Airways’ new flights to Abu Dhabi.
Optimistic operators
The Leisure and ‘Mice’ (Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Exhibitions) manager of travel company ITL World’s, Mehboob Rehman said Brazil is one of the countries that offer the most growth potential to the company’s business, particularly in business tourism. In the Gulf, ITL has offices in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, plus India, in Asia.
Rehman said Brazil is the country with the best conditions in its region when it comes to expanding business for the company. He said that similar to Dubai, the major Brazilian cities are local hubs that receive tourists from all over Latin America. “The Middle East is located in the middle of the world, with connections to several destinations. Likewise, Brazil has the most connections to Latin America. These are destinations that can be tapped into. We want to do business with the local travel companies,” he said.
The sales manager of Morocco’s MTM Travel, Nour-eddine Noukoud, came to the WTM fair looking for deals with Brazilian tour operators. “Brazil has a large population with money to invest in trips, a growing middle class, and an interest in Morocco. We want to explore this opportunity,” he said.
Service
World Travel Market Latin America 2013
Until April 25
Transamérica Expo Center
Avenida Doutor Mário Villas Boas Rodrigues, 387, Santo Amaro, São Paulo – SP
For information and accreditation go to http://www.wtmlatinamerica.com/page.cfm/Link=225/t=m/goSection=20
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
