DUBAI, June 30 (Xinhua) -- A tourism delegation led by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) took a promotional roadshow to Kazakhstan and Ukraine to attract more tourists, DCT Abu Dhabi said in a statement on Saturday.
The government-controlled tourism body of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s capital said that Kazakhstan's largest city of Almaty as well as Ukrainian capital Kiev were two key destinations within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The promotional activities aimed to reinforce ties with key stakeholders in these markets and capitalize on newly-relaxed visa rules for both countries to attract more tourists.
Since the beginning of this year, Ukrainian travelers have been receiving a visa on arrival when reaching Abu Dhabi while Kazakh visitors can now get a free visa for 30 days when they land.
The delegation consisted of representatives from UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways and Yas Experiences, along with local and international hotels located in Abu Dhabi.
The Kazakhstan roadshow attracted more than 90 local travel trade experts, who were given detailed presentations about Abu Dhabi's diverse offerings, including the opening of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island schedule on July 25.
DCT Abu Dhabi expected the visitor number from Kazakhstan to Abu Dhabi will grow by 20 per cent this year, while the Ukrainian market already showed 59 percent growth this year.
