Etihad Airways and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have revealed that the Abu Dhabi Stopover program attracted 24,000 international visitors in the first half of 2024, a significant leap from the 7,000 visitors recorded in the latter half of 2023—a 242 percent increase. The relaunch of this initiative has surpassed expectations, substantially enhancing Abu Dhabi's tourism industry. Since its inception, the Abu Dhabi Stopover program, exclusive to Etihad Airways, has experienced remarkable growth. This robust performance, combined with rising demand and increased bookings for the second half of the year, positions the program to meet its ambitious goal of 75,000 international stopover visitors in 2024.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, stated: "The growth of our Abu Dhabi Stopover program has far outpaced our forecasts. We've witnessed international visitors more than triple within just six months. This success not only highlights Abu Dhabi's attractiveness as a destination but also underscores the program's efficacy in encouraging travelers to explore the emirate's attractions." Travelers are seizing the chance to discover Abu Dhabi, with an average stay of two nights. The program has notably appealed to travelers from major markets such as England, the USA, Australia, EU countries, and India.
Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director-General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, commented: "The Abu Dhabi Stopover program exemplifies the impact of strategic partnerships in fostering tourism growth. This innovative initiative is clearly striking a chord with international travelers, providing them with a compelling reason to visit our emirate. The program's success reinforces Abu Dhabi's status as a must-visit destination and encourages travelers to plan extended stays in the future." The program's popularity has been further amplified by improvements to the booking process. A newly designed, user-friendly landing page on etihad.com has led to a 43 percent surge in web traffic from potential visitors seeking information about Abu Dhabi.
