ONE of the GCC’s prime entertainment destinations for tourists, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is set to participate at this month’s World Travel Market (WTM) where it aims to discuss travel, tourism, and business opportunities with both leisure and trade industry partners.
Yas Island’s participation, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA), will showcase its various attractions, venues, hotel properties and future plans to an audience of over 5,000 exhibitors from 184 countries and regions and an ambitious 8,000 attendees who are eager to explore new concepts from destinations around the world.
Karim El Guanaini, vice president of Yas Island Destination Management, who will be representing Yas Island at the upcoming WTM, says: “Yas Island has shown tremendous development over the past year with more improvements to be introduced soon. This year alone we launched Yas Waterworld, the award-winning mega waterpark, and Yas Marina also got revamped with the addition of five new internationally and locally acclaimed restaurants.”
He continues: “The WTM creates a vibrant and enthusiastic platform to share our updates with the industry and we expect an even greater buzz this year as travel and tourism is picking up and opportunities are endless. We endeavour to remain one of the most sought after destinations in the world and it’s pivotal to create ties with countries and partners who can assist in supporting our vision and to educate tourism aficionados of the opportunities that lie within fostering Yas Island as a destination, Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole.”
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El Guanaini ... WTM creates an enthusiatic platform to share our updates |
As well as Yas Waterworld, Yas Island is home to Yas Marina Circuit, renowned for hosting the annual F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which kickstarts on November 1, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari branded theme park, the Yas Links golf course, and an outdoor music arena called du Arena.
A selection of six hotels can be found within one plaza, along with the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, a five-star, iconic hotel and the only one in the world to straddle an F1 race track, being built half on land and half over water.
In addition, the O1NE Yas Island nightclub can accommodate up to 1,000 club-goers at a single time. The building, designed by Sari el Khazen Architects, is located at the heart of Yas Island just across du Forum indoor entertainment venue making it easily accessible and viewable to the public.
O1NE Yas Island features the world’s largest privately owned graffiti wall on the outside and a 360-degree 3D projection mapping on the inside. O1NE Yas Island can also be ued as a multi-purpose events venue with approximately 450 seated capacity and 900 full capacity.
The destination witnessed the success of yas express sightseeing formula as well this year which recorded a monthly passenger average of 5,421 according to recent statistics. Creating connectivity between all the attractions, Yas Express and Yas Express Saadiyat complimentary shuttle services currently include stops at Yas Waterworld, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Plaza Hotels, Yas Viceroy Hotel, Yas Central, St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi enabling guests the opportunity to explore the plethora of leisure and entertainment attractions on offer on Yas Island.
Further to this, by the end of 2013, the Yas Marina expansion project will be launched which will add to the marina’s existing facilities.
The project will include the refurbishment of two existing restaurants and addition of five new food and beverage outlets that can be hired for private events or catering packages, new management offices with bathrooms, showers and facilities for members, shore power and water for visitor berths, children’s play area, a pedestrian promenade with new landscaping and interactive musical fountains, valet parking facilities and a calendar of sporting and cultural events.
Another exciting new development is the Yas Mall, due to open in 2014. The mall will offer 450 retail units, covering 235,000 sq m of leasable place and parking for up to 10,000 vehicles.
One of its most prominent features will be its Town Square – set to be the largest gathering space of any shopping centre in the Middle East. Another unique feature will be its dining experiences, with European street-like setting cafés offering varied cuisines.
El Guanaini says: “2013 has been a successful year for tourism in Yas Island; we have witnessed enormous growth in the number of tourists coming to Yas Island, with the opening of Yas Waterworld in January 2013 and the increasing demand for tourism and business in the region. 2012 figures show over three million visitors, and early signs of 2013 indicate an estimated four million visitors by year end. We attribute this to the widening of the attractions and the recognition that Yas Island is increasingly growing from a regional destination to a global one.”
The key source markets to Yas Island has been Saudi Arabia, India, UK, Germany, Russia as well as the UAE, and the management is now looking towards attracting new markets such as China, Holland, US and Australia.
He added that the company’s aim was to expand its global awareness, increase relations with local, regional, and international trade partners, explore new sales channels, and embark on marketing initiatives and partnerships and position Yas Island as a prime global leisure and entertainment destination, focused on delivering premium products and services to individuals and businesses alike.
During the four-day event in London, the Yas Island stand (ME300, Hall S3) will host a range of activities and offer a sneak preview of the varied entertainment attractions available on Yas Island. Prizes are also set to be given away which include a weekend getaway on Yas Island, Etihad economy tickets for two to Abu Dhabi, sunset cruises along Yas Marina and Captain Tonys, and premium passes to Yas Waterworld and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi or a round of golf at Yas Links.
By Shilpa Chandran